国际英语新闻:S.Korea reports no MERS infection for 16 days

SEOUL, July 21 (Xinhua) -- South Korea reported no new case of infection with Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) for 16 straight days Tuesday, indicating the end of the MERS crisis nearing, the health ministry said.

The total contagion cases were unchanged at 186 since July 6, according to the Ministry of Health and Welfare.

The spread of the MERS corona virus showed signs of abating. The government may declare an end to the MERS crisis as early as August 2 as the date was the day four weeks after the last contagion case was reported.

The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that the MERS end should be declared four weeks after the last infectee completely recovers, delaying the date to late August.

The death toll had no change at 36 for 10 days since July 12, leaving the fatality rate at 19.4 percent.

The number of those discharged from hospitals for their complete recovery from the infection was unchanged at 136.

Excluding the dead and those discharged from hospitals, 14 patients are under treatment. Among them, four are in unstable conditions.

The number of those quarantined declined from 22 on Monday to 20 on Tuesday.