SEOUL (Korea Herald/Asia News Network) - The last patient diagnosed with the Middle East respiratory syndrome (Mers) in South Korea was readmitted to the hospital and tested positive for the virus again after showing symptoms such as high fever, the country's Health and Welfare Ministry said Monday (Oct 12).

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 been put into isolation.

South Korean authorities had initially planned to declare the country Mers-free on Oct 29.

Since the country confirmed its first Mers case on May 20, the disease has infected 186 people, killing 36 of them.