S.Korea's tally of MERS cases at 7; one suspected patient heads to China

May 28 South Korea's tally of patients of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) rose to seven on Thursday, with authorities saying one suspected victim skipped out of voluntary home quarantine to take a trip to China.

A rise in MERS cases has stirred alarm in South Korea, with health authorities being criticised for not moving quickly and effectively enough to quarantine suspected patients.

Two new victims are believed to have caught the virus from the first case confirmed last week, a 68-year-old man who had travelled to Bahrain in April and May, and returned to South Korea via Qatar.

[link to www.china.org.cn]