The South Korean MERS patient who traveled to China has been gradually recovering there, but his lungs have become inflamed, Chinese health authorities said Wednesday.
  

The 44-year-old Korean man flew to Hong Kong on May 26, a day after his father was diagnosed with the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome virus in South Korea and subsequently went to the southern Chinese province of Guangdong by bus.
  

He was confirmed to be infected with the virus on May 29 and has been treated under quarantine at the Huizhou Municipal Central Hospital in Guangdong.
  

In a statement, Guangdong's health authorities said the Korean man developed no fever over the past four days, but his lungs are inflamed.
  

Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwanese authorities have stepped up their travel warnings for South Korea.
  

In Beijing, Mao Qunan, spokesman for China's National Health and Family Planning Commission, called for Chinese people to remain vigilant against the virus.
  

Speaking to reporters at a press conference, Mao said that anyone who traveled to South Korea or the Middle East should report to doctors if they develop any symptoms of the virus.
  

South Korea reported its first MERS case on May 20. Since then, the virus has killed nine people and inflected more than 100 in South Korea.
  

MERS is a viral respiratory disease caused by a novel coronavirus that was first identified in Saudi Arabia in 2012, according to the World Health Organization.
  

The virus, which causes a fever, cough and shortness of breath, has infected more than 1,100 people and more than 400 people have died from it, WHO said. There is no vaccine or specific treatment for the virus. (Yonhap)