More than 200 schools have to be shut down on Wednesday in South Korea due to MERS outbreak. The World Health Organization has added to the infection scare through a statement that more cases are likely to be seen in near future.

President Park Geun-Hye was prompted to call an ad hoc meeting with top health officials and medical experts to devise ways to curb the situation. The World Health Organization has predicted more infections and the government is facing criticism for not acting proactively.

This outbreak of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) outside Saudi Arabia has become the largest, with more than 400 killed since 2012.

Reports of new infections come up on daily basis and urban residents in the country are doing their bit to stay prevented from the infection; they are wearing face masks and using hand sanitizers.

Education Minister Hwang Woo-Yea said he had a discussion with regional education heads to figure out what could be done to ensure the safety of students, leading to closure of 209 schools. "Infection among students should be prevented at any cost ... we need far stronger measures at schools than anywhere else", said Hwang.

The first, or "index" case 0151, was reported on May 20. The case surrounded a 68-year-old man who was detected positive for MERS infection after returning from a trip to Saudi Arabia.

The WHO said in a statement from Geneva on Tuesday that more cases of MERS infections are likely to be reported because of the number of clinics and hospitals that cared for the index case.