South Korea reports 11th death from MERS virus, four new cases

South Korea reported a 11th death from the MERS virus on Thursday, as well as four new cases of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome, bringing the total to 126, the world’s largest outbreak outside Saudi Arabia. The Health Ministry says a 72-year-old MERS patient died on Friday, and that she had suffered from pneumonia. The outbreak of Middle East respiratory syndrome has caused panic in South Korea. It has infected more than 120 people since the first case, a 68-year-old man who had traveled to the Middle East, was diagnosed on May 20. South Korean officials believe the outbreak may have peaked, although they say the next few days will be crucial to determining whether their efforts to isolate patients and control the disease have worked.