After three consecutive weeks without detecting new cases of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), the South Korean government is expected to announce the end of the epidemic soon.

South Korea plans to announce the end of the MERS epidemic "in essence" soon - Photo: Yonhap

According to the announcement today, July 26, of the Korean Ministry of Health, in the past 3 weeks, this country has not detected any new cases of MERS infection, nor has anyone died from this disease in the past 14 days.

Currently, the total number of infected cases stops at 186, of which 36 people died, 138 people have been discharged from hospital after fully recovering, 12 people still need to be treated in hospital but 11 of them have tested negative for MERS.

The remaining patient also tested negative in several tests, and his quarantine status is expected to be lifted after midnight tonight.

The government is expected to announce the end of the MERS outbreak "in substance" as early as this week, although the official declaration will come later under World Health Organization (WHO) regulations, according to the Korea Herald.

According to WHO regulations, a declaration of the end of the outbreak will be made at least 28 days after the last patient has fully recovered.

(According to TTO)