South Korea has reported no new cases of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) for the first time in more than a fortnight, Yonhap News Agency reported Saturday.

South Korea's Health Ministry announced on Saturday that for the first time in 16 days it had recorded no new cases of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) in the country.

It said that the number of fatalities associated with the biggest outbreak of the disease outside of Saudi Arabia remained at 24, with a total of 166 confirmed infections.

The ministry said that an outbreak of the disease appeared to have leveled off.