South Korea has created a task force to keep the outbreak of the MERS virus from undermining its national image, a Foreign Ministry official said Thursday.

The government is concerned that continued reports of the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome cases here will reduce the number of foreign tourists, fuel anti-Korean sentiment, and adversely affect the nation's credit ratings, the official said.

"We are making every effort to head off such possibilities," the official told reporters, asking anonymity. "For that, (we) launched a task force of related bureaus and departments."

South Korea earlier formed an inter-agency task force on combating MERS.

The official said his ministry has no plans yet to issue any new travel warnings for any Middle Eastern country.

In connection with MERS, meanwhile, 15 South Koreans remain quarantined in China by local authorities.

One of them has been confirmed to be infected and the rest are suspected of infections.

"Our consular offices there have requested China to properly treat them," said the official.

In a separate press briefing, the Defense Ministry said more than 80 soldiers have been quarantined at military hospitals for suspected infections.

U.S. troops here are also stepping up anti-MERS efforts.

The 7th Air Force at the Osan Air Base in Gyeonggi Province advised its members to take their own safeguard steps.

"Our hospital has established a plan to care for our population as well as screening those coming onto Osan," it said in a Facebook message. "We are also coordinating with Korean medical and public health officials to stay informed on their plans and progress."

It noted that South Korean authorities are "taking prudent measures to have those that have had prolonged close contact with confirmed MERS patients remain in their homes." (Yonhap)