S Korean health chief apologises for failing to halt MERS outbreak

South Korea’s health minister apologised on Sunday for failing to halt an outbreak of the MERS virus, vowing “utmost efforts” to curb the disease’s spread as the number infected rose to 15.

“We apologise for causing concern and anxiety among people due to... our initial judgement on the contagiousness of MERS,” Minister Moon Hyung-Pyo told reporters.

Moon added this week would be a “critical period” to contain the spread of MERS, or Middle East Respiratory Syndrome, which can cause symptoms ranging from flu-like aches and pains to pneumonia and kidney failure.

“We are making our utmost efforts to prevent the further spread of the disease,” Moon said, urging the public not to panic. 

Health officials have come under fire for allowing an infected man to travel to China despite warnings from doctors.

The 44-year-old left on a business trip on Tuesday, a day after his father was diagnosed with the virus, and was confirmed Friday to have been infected himself.

The man flew to Hong Kong before travelling by bus to the Chinese city of Huizhou, where he is currently being treated under quarantine.