Airlines cut flights to South Korea as China steps up MERS alert

An employee wearing a mask to prevent contracting Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) wipes a travelator at Incheon International Airport in Incheon, South Korea, June 14, 2015. [Photo/Agencies]

ROK MERS patients in China covering

The first MERS patient in China, a 44-year-old ROK national, has tested negative twice after finishing treatment a week ago, said Deng Xilong, a doctor with Guangzhou No 8 People's Hospital.

"Generally, two negative results means the patient can be discharged from hospital. We still have insufficient understanding of the virus. To ensure no risk at all, we need to continue our observation," said Deng, who joined the treatment of the ROK patient in the Central Hospital of Huizhou City, Guangdong.

The patient tested positive for MERS while in Guangdong province on May 29. He was displaying symptoms as early as May 21 in his country. Despite doctors' advice for him to cancel his travel plans, he flew to Hong Kong on May 26, entering Huizhou city via Shenzhen.

All 75 people in Guangdong who had been in close contact with him were released from quarantine on Thursday.

MERS infections in the ROK increased to 145 Sunday since the first case was reported on May 20, with 14 fatalities.

The World Health Organization on Saturday strongly advised South Korea to ban all people suspected of being infected with MERS or having contact with the MERS infectees from going abroad.

The number of total death cases from MERS has risen to 453 in Saudi Arabia, which has reported 1030 MERS infections since the outbreak of the deadly disease in 2012.

There is still no cure or vaccine for MERS, while current treatment has largely been supportive care.