South Korean President Park Geun-hye postponed a US visit on Wednesday to supervise the handling of an outbreak of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), as two more people died and 13 new cases were reported, lifting the total number of patients to 108.
Park had been due to leave for the United States, her country's closest ally, on Sunday and meet President Barack Obama on Tuesday. Her office said the coming week would be a "watershed" for the country's response to the disease.
The World Health Organization (WHO), which began work on Tuesday with South Korea to analyse the virus and review the response, has not recommended any curbs on travel or trade.
MERS has also taken its toll on high street shopping, with department store sales falling 25 per cent in the first week of June compared with an average of the first two weeks of May, government data showed. Sales at discount stores fell 7.2 per cent, but online purchases rose 3.2 per cent.
All subsequent infections, including the 13 announced on Wednesday, have been linked to health facilities, the ministry said.
The number of people who may have been in contact with MERS patients and were now in quarantine rose to 3,439, while quarantine has been lifted for 641 people, the ministry said.
Choi, also the finance minister, announced a 400 billion won ($357 million) financial package for business and regions affected by MERS ..
MERS has also taken its toll on high street shopping, with department store sales falling 25 per cent in the first week of June compared with an average of the first two weeks of May, government data showed. Sales at discount stores fell 7.2 per cent, but online purchases rose 3.2 per cent.
All subsequent infections, including the 13 announced on Wednesday, have been linked to health facilities, the ministry said.
The number of people who may have been in contact with MERS patients and were now in quarantine rose to 3,439, while quarantine has been lifted for 641 people, the ministry said.
Choi, also the finance minister, announced a 400 billion won ($357 million) financial package for business and regions affected by MERS ..
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