CRI听力:S. Korean President Delays U.S. Visit amid MERS Crisis

South Korean President Park Geun-hye has decided to postpone her visit to the United States amid the continuing rise of cases of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome, or MERS, in the country.

The delay comes as the number of confirmed cases in South Korea continues to rise.

Jeong Eun-kyung with South Korea's disease control center says over a hundred people have now contracted the virus.

"As of now, there are total of 108 MERS cases. 13 more cases were confirmed yesterday and as of now, a total of nine people have died. One patient was discharged from hospital today, so a total of 4 patients now have left. 11 patients are in an unstable condition."

Park had been scheduled for a 5-day visit to the United States starting Sunday to meet with US President Barack Obama.

South Korean deputy Health Care Minister Kwon Deok-cheol says they've launched a new website connected to the MERS outbreak.

"The MERS website is opened today from 9 A.M.. You can see the names of hospital where infections took place and the current number of MERS cases. It also informs precautions in the case of travellers, medical workers and people who are under self-quarantine."

MERS was first diagnosed in South Korea on May 20th.

MERS, a corona virus similar to SARS, was first diagnosed in the Middle East in 2012.

It has a mortality rate of around 40-percent.

No cures or vaccines are currently available.