Former MERS patient in S Korea re-diagnosed with virus

The last patient here diagnosed with the Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) was readmitted to the hospital and tested positive for the virus again after showing symptoms such as high fever, the Health and Welfare Ministry said Monday.

The 35-year-old patient, who contracted the virus while suffering from lymphoma, had left the hospital earlier this month after testing negative.

A total of 129 people who came in contact with the patient, including the medical staff and family members, have also been put into isolation.

Authorities had initially planned to announce the end of MERS for the country on Oct. 29.

Since Korea's first MERS case on May 20, the disease has infected 186 people, killing 36 of them.