South Korea on Monday confirmed a male high school student was diagnosed with Middle East respiratory syndrome, the first time for a minor to be infected in the nationwide outbreak.

The 16-year-old started showing symptoms of MERS last Monday and was diagnosed with the disease on Sunday, the Education Ministry said. He was admitted to Samsung Medical Center in Seoul -- where he is believed to have been infected -- on May 27 and received surgery for a separate illness the following day.

The student attends a high school in Seoul, where 169 schools and kindergartens have canceled classes this week due to MERS fears.

Citing the Health Ministry, the Education Ministry said there is “no chance that the student has passed on the virus to other students as he has been quarantined since May 27.”

As of Monday morning, Seoul has confirmed 88 cases of MERS, six of whom have died.

By Yoon Min-sik (minsikyoon@heraldcorp.com)