14th MERS death, South Korea reports

The 14th death from an outbreak of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), with 12 new cases. South Korean health officials have reported.

The new case including that of an ambulance driver who moved a patient infected with the virus also reported. The latest fatality was a 68-year-old woman who contracted the virus at a hospital in Pyeongtaek City, 65 kilometres south of Seoul, the Health Ministry said.

It said all the 14 deceased had pre-existing health conditions, with the most recent fatality suffering from hypertension and hypothyroidism. Twelve new infected patients brought to 138 the total number of confirmed cases, in the largest outbreak of the virus outside Saudi Arabia.

The new cases included an ambulance driver who fell ill after transporting a 75-year-old infected woman to Samsung Medical Centre in southern Seoul on June 7, where she died three days later.Five other cases are being investigated to find out how and where the patients were infected.