Seoul: South Korea on Monday reported two more deaths and three more cases of infection due to the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) virus, taking the toll to 27 and the total number of people contaminated to 172.

Two elderly male patients, who were already suffering from cancer, died, raising the fatality rate to 15.7 percent.

Among the three new cases was the 171st patient, who tested positive 10 days after the incubation period of two weeks, Xinhua reported, citing the ministry of health and welfare.

The 60-year-old woman was infected after visiting an emergency room of the Samsung Medical Center in Seoul.

Seven patients were released from hospitals as they recovered after being infected, raising the total number of people discharged to 50.

The number of those quarantined slid from 4,035 on Sunday, to 3,833 on Monday, keeping with the downward trend noticed during the past four days. (IANS)