President cancels US trip after ‘Middle East’ disease outbreak

South Korean President Park Geun-hye postponed a US visit to supervise the handling the outbreak of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) .

Park had been due to leave for the United States, her country’s closest ally, and meet President Barack Obama. The outbreak has, however, fueled public anxiety with the death toll rising to nine on Wednesday.

With thousands isolated, the number of schools closing has risen to 2,474 including 22 universities.

The world of tourism in the region has also experienced a set back as a result of prohibited movements into the area. They might face a dark spot in their economy as tourism is a sector that has been promising in flagging the South Korean economy.

Having no cure or vaccine, MERS which was first identified in humans in 2012, is caused by a coronavirus from the same family elicited China’s deadly 2003 outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS).

South Korean Health Ministry remain to stay positive about the issue saying that all those who died had been suffering serious ailments before they tested positive for MERS virus.

Deputy Prime Minister, Hoi Kyung-Hwan has urged consumers to go on with their lives normally and not fear spending money and avoid getting excessively worried.

According to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, the country has the second highest number of cases after Saudi Arabia, with 1,257 MERS cases reported globally with at least 448 related deaths.

By Linah Wangari