SEOUL (REUTES) - South Korea's health ministry reported three new cases of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (Mers) on Tuesday, taking the total to 175 in an outbreak that is still the largest outside Saudi Arabia but which is seen to have levelled off.

The health ministry also said 54 people who had tested positive for the Mers virus have recovered and have been discharged from hospital.

There have been 27 deaths, mostly elderly patients or people who had existing illnesses.