14 new cases of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome, or MERS, have been reported in South Korea in the last 24 hours.<br /><br /> This brings the total of confirmed cases to 122. At least nine people have died so far.<br /><br /> Concern is beginning to spread across the region. Dozens of suspected cases have been tested in Hong Kong, although none have been confirmed.<br /><br /> This is the largest outbreak of the illness outside Saudi Arabia. It is thought to have been brought back to South Korea by a 68-year-old business man on a trip. All subsequent infections have been traced to the original patient and have occurred in health facilities.<br /><br /> Concern is also spreading to the economy of what is Asia’s fourth largest economy. South Korea’s Central Bank has cut interest rates to a record low of 1.50 percent.
