7th MERS Victim Dies in South Korea

South Korea reported the country’s seventh death from Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) on Tuesday as officials vowed to curb the outbreak by the end of this week. The nation also confirmed eight new cases of the infection, bringing the total to 95 cases in the largest outbreak outside Saudi Arabia. A 68-year-old woman with a pre-existing heart condition was the latest to die from the virus. Nearly 2,900 people who may have come in contact with the infected patients have been placed under quarantine. Concerned with the effect on the nation’s economy, officials have launched “an active, all-out response with the goal of ending the MERS crisis within this week,” said Acting Prime Minister Choi Kyung-Hwan. Authorities have stressed all seven victims had pre-existing conditions and all infections have so far been restricted to hospitals.