SEOUL: South Korea's health ministry said on Tuesday a patient infected with the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) virus has died, becoming the seventh fatality in an outbreak that began in May.
The ministry said there were eight new cases of MERS, bringing the total to 95 but falling from 23 daily new cases reported on Monday.
On Monday, the government said it was ready to take swift measures to counter the negative effects on its economy from an outbreak of the deadly respiratory disease, suggesting that worried policymakers may soon deliver monetary and fiscal stimulus.
President Park Geun-hye said the negative economic effects from the outbreak of MERS should not be overlooked, while Finance Minister Choi vowed to take steps to offset any hit to growth.
"The effect from MERS on private consumption cannot be overlooked as spending and tourism are quickly shrinking," Park said on Monday during a visit to the MERS response headquarters.
"We can say that the virus has been driven out completely only once the economic effects are minimised." Her comments mirrored concerns expressed by Choi earlier in the day