Mers: how does the respiratory virus spread and who is at risk?

The health ministry in South Korea has confirmed 14 new cases of the deadly Mers virus, bringing the total to 122 in the largest outbreak of the disease outside Saudi Arabia.

At least nine people have died from the respiratory disease since it was first reported in the country late last month. Eight of the 14 new cases, including a pregnant woman, have been linked to the same hospital in the capital Seoul, according to Reuters.

As many as 3,000 people have been placed under quarantine and nearly 2,400 schools have been closed as the government faces growing criticism of its response to the rising number of infections. President Park Geun-hye has been forced to postpone a visit to the United States in order to deal with the crisis.

The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up

Meanwhile, China has confirmed its first case of the disease: a South Korean man who travelled to the country after defying a voluntary quarantine order.

Hong Kong has issued a "red-alert" advisory against all non-essential travel to South Korea, amid growing fears that the disease could spread across the region. Authorities there are currently testing two people for the virus.

More than 54,000 foreign tourists have also cancelled planned trips to South Korea since the beginning of the month, the Korea Tourism Board told Al Jazeera.

Despite the scale of the outbreak, the World Health Organisation (WHO) says there is currently no need to impose travel restrictions. Public health experts in the UK maintain that the risk to the general public remains extremely low.

What is Mers?

Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (Mers-CoV) is a severe respiratory illness that is part of a family of viruses than can cause illnesses ranging from the common cold to Sars. It is known to have infected at least 1,208 people globally, with at least 444 related deaths. Mers is highly pathogenic and the WHO considers it to have the ability to evolve and spread from human to human.

Where did it come from and how does it spread?

The virus was first discovered in 2012 in a Saudi Arabian man who died of pneumonia. It is widely believed that the disease originated in bats and camels, though other possible animal reservoirs may exist. While Mers has evolved to pass from human to human, experts say it only transmissible in close contact. Cases of the disease have been confirmed in 25 countries including in the Middle East, Europe and Asia, with the vast majority in Saudi Arabia.

What are the symptoms?

The virus has an incubation period of up to ten days. It attacks the respiratory tract and the most immediate signs of infection are fever, coughing, and breathing difficulties. Mers can also cause pneumonia, organ failure and septic shock, particularly in people with weakened immune systems or chronic diseases.

What can be done?

There is currently no vaccine or specific treatment for Mers. Medical staff can only offer supportive care based on each patient's clinical condition, says the WHO. People are advised to reduce their risk of infection by avoiding contact with anyone suffering from respiratory illness, following basic hygiene practices and avoiding contact with camels.