S Korea reports two deaths, three new MERS cases

South Korea on Monday reported two MERS fatalities and three new cases, taking the country’s death toll to 27 in the largest outbreak of the virus outside Saudi Arabia.

The two men -- aged 84 and 87 -- died from Sunday night to Monday morning of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome, the health ministry said, adding both had been battling cancer.

They contracted the virus at Samsung Medical Centre in Seoul and <g data-gr-id="16">Daecheong</g> hospital in the western city of Daejeon and were diagnosed on June 9 and 12, respectively.  The ministry also reported three more cases of the disease to bring the total number of those infected to 172, including 27 who have died.

The three included two patients at Samsung hospital and Konkuk University Medical Centre in Seoul and one caregiver at <g data-gr-id="18">Daecheong</g> hospital. Samsung -- a major hospital where more than 80 patients, families and medical workers have been infected -- suspended most services on June 14 to stem the spread of the virus.