South Korea MERS Virus Outbreak 2015 Death Toll & News Updates: 3 New Cases Identified

The South Korean health authorities announced that there are now 175 total MERS cases in the country, the biggest outbreak of the disease outside of the Arabian Peninsula.

The authorities added that 54 people have recovered from the virus and are now discharged from the hospital. According to TODAY, in the 27 casualties from the disease, most are from elderly patients with pre-existing conditions.

Meanwhile, the heir-apparent of the massive Samsung Group bowed and apologized during a nationally televised address on Tuesday for one of their hospitals' failure in dealing with the MERS outbreak, according to the New York Times.

The man being groomed to control one of South Korea's largest conglomerates, Lee Jae-yong, 47, who is also the executive of the company, said: "Our Samsung Medical Center has caused too big a pain and worry for the people by failing to prevent the infection and spread of MERS." He then bowed after his statement.

Mr Lee assured that the hospital will undergo better changes to address the crowded conditions of its emergency rooms which experts believe is one the major reason why the disease spread quickly. A patient who went in last May to be treated in the emergency room apparently infected patients, visitors, and staff with MERS, reports the NY Times.

In his speech, Mr Lee mentioned his father Lee Kun-hee, 73, the chairman of Samsung Group, has been hospitalized at Samsung Medical Center for more than a year after suffering from a heart attack.

"My father has been lying at this hospital for more than a year," Mr Lee said as reported by Reuters. "I understand even to a small degree the worry and pain that patients and their families have experienced."

Out of the total 175 MERS cases, 85 of them were patients, relatives, or staff at the Samsung Medical Center, which is considered to be one of the largest hospitals in the country. According to the Guardian, the health facility did not receive patients anymore starting last week.

According to the report by Reuters, the hospital was criticized after it was discovered that it cared for a MERS patient for a couple of days before being diagnosed and therefore having the patient come in contact with almost 900 people, including the staff.

This situation is considered to be an embarrassment to Mr Lee as he is expected to take over the whole group consisting business that deal with consumer electronics, construction, amusement parks, insurance, and ship building from his father, according to ABC News.