IN PHOTO: Women wearing masks to prevent contracting Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) ride a subway train in Seoul, South Korea, June 12, 2015.
IN PHOTO: Women wearing masks to prevent contracting Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) ride a subway train in Seoul, South Korea, June 12, 2015. South Korea has sealed off two hospitals that treated people with a deadly respiratory disease, officials said, even as the outbreak that has been spreading through health facilities could have peaked, with just four new cases on Friday. REUTERS/Kim Hong-Ji

There are 126 cases of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome or MERS in South Korea. Although the number of cases has been dropped, the Center of Disease Control and Prevention or CDC warned U.S. healthcare providers by phone on Thursday to be watchful about the symptoms of MERS as there are patients who have travelled to South Korea or some parts of the Middle East countries.

On Friday, four new cases were reported in South Korea, increasing the total death of the virus to 126 according to NBC News. The latest victim of the virus was the 65-year-old man who had been treated for lung cancer and soon declared as MERS patient.

On the same day, a 72-year-old woman died after being infected by the virus, confirmed by health ministry. Despite that there are still reports of people testing positive for MERS, health officials in the Asian nation said the rate of the new cases is slowing and they advised people to continue their daily activities.

"The number of newly confirmed cases has fallen sharply and there are little risks of the virus spreading through airborne transmissions or to communities outside hospital settings. Therefore, we ask the people to conquer their fear and engage in day-to-day business," the health ministry said in a statement.

The health agency alerted healthcare providers by issuing advisory about the signs and symptoms of MERS. The advisory also cited the potential for transmission from travellers who came from South Korea, where outbreak started since May.

CNN reports healthcare providers were also reminded to ask their patients about the places they travelled, particularly if they came from South Korea or Middle East. On May 20, there were 122 cases of respiratory syndrome reported.

Approximately 3,800 people remained isolated since Thursday after it was discovered they had possible contact with infected people. There were more than 2,600 schools and kindergartens in S. Korea closed.

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