S. Korean man dies of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome

By Zehra Ulucak

ANKARA (AA) - A South Korean man died after showing symptoms of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), local media reported Tuesday.

The 60-year-old man died at a hospital in the city of Incheon after returning from a four-month business trip to Iraq transiting through Kuwait, according to the Yonhap News Agency quoting city officials.

Earlier, a man at the age of 61 had been diagnosed with MERS in September -- the first case seen in the country in three years.

The fatal MERS outbreak in South Korea recorded between May and December 2015 killed 38 people and left 187 infected.

During the outbreak, schools in South Korea closed their doors, thousands were quarantined and the number of tourists coming to the country decreased significantly.

The virus first appeared in Saudi Arabia in 2012, then spreading to other countries.

MERS, which occurs in Middle East countries, especially in Saudi Arabia, primarily infects the lungs and may cause damage to the kidneys and other organs. It is transmitted by close contact with infected persons.

There are no preventive inoculations or effective medications against the virus.