Two passengers wearing masks wait to go through the checks at the Gimpo International Airport in Seoul, South Korea, May 28, 2015. [Photo/IC]

SEOUL - The number of South Koreans infected with Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) has risen to 15 after two new cases were detected, the health ministry said Sunday.

Two people in their 30s, who had close contact with the patient zero, were confirmed positive for the deadly viral disease, according to the Ministry of Health and Welfare.

The 14th case was a 35-year-old patient who had been hospitalized at the same ward with the patient zero, and the 15th case was a 35-year-old person who visited her mother being admitted to the same hospital ward with the patient zero.

The 13th case was tested positive on Saturday as the 49-year-old man nursed his wife, the 12th infectee who had been hospitalized at the same ward with the patient zero.