South Korea reported no additional cases of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) for more than two weeks on Tuesday, with the death toll from the disease also holding steady.

So far, 186 people have been diagnosed with the viral disease since the country confirmed its first case on May 20, with the number remaining unchanged over the past 16 days, according to the Ministry of Health and Welfare.

Also, the death toll stayed flat at 36, with the country reporting no additional fatalities for the 11th consecutive day.

Out of those diagnosed, 136 have been discharged from hospitals following complete recoveries, while 14 still remain hospitalized.

Out of the 14 MERS patients still in hospitals, 12 are expected to be released soon as they have already tested negative for the disease, according to ministry officials.

In addition to patients, five others remain in isolation as suspected cases. The number dropped from eight on the previous day.

Nearly 16,700 people have been subject to isolation for possible infection after coming in close contact with MERS patients, with 16,688 of them having been released after they showed no symptoms of MERS for over the known maximum incubation period of 14 days for the disease.

Ministry officials earlier said the country may be able to declare an end to the MERS outbreak early next month if there are no additional infection cases until then.

The ministry said Tuesday that such a declaration will come later in August as it has decided to follow World Health Organization (WHO) regulation on declaring an end to an outbreak.

Under WHO rules, declaration of the end to an outbreak can be made 28 days after the last patient is completely recovered, it said.

MERS is a viral respiratory disease that was first reported in Saudi Arabia in 2012.

The disease has since claimed over 530 lives throughout the world, posting a very high fatality rate of about 36 percent.

In South Korea, the fatality rate stands at 19.4 percent. (Yonhap)