South Korea reports first 2 deaths from MERS

South Korea confirmed the first two deaths from Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) on Tuesday as it struggles to contain the spread of the respiratory disease that has sickened 25 people since its outbreak about two weeks ago, according to Yonhap News.

A 58-year-old woman died of acute respiratory failure on Monday after having close contact with the first MERS patient at an undisclosed hospital in mid-May, the health ministry said. A 71-year-old man also died after coming in close contact with the first patient during a similar period. Their identities were withheld for privacy reasons.

The ministry also reported six new cases of MERS, including two tertiary infections from a secondarily infected patient, raising the number of confirmed local patients to 25. The first case was confirmed on May 20.

"Transmission of MERS occurs only in limited cases when a person comes in close contact with a patient by being in the same space and at the same time," health ministry official said, while also speaking on condition of anonymity.

The health ministry said it will reveal the list of hospitals that have been linked to the transmission of MERS to all medical institutes and their staff members.

The move aims to prevent a further spread of the disease through new and unrelated hospitals by allowing their staff members to check whether any of their patients had been to a hospital linked to MERS.