Risk of MERS on mainland rising, health officials say

China is facing a heightened risk of more MERS cases because of frequent contacts with areas of the Middle East and South Korea that have been hit hard by the potentially lethal viral infection, the nation's top health authority said.

Mao Qun'an, spokesman for the National Health and Family Planning Commission, said on Wednesday that China faces a "substantially increased risk" of more imported cases.

Mao made his remarks at a news conference as the condition of China's first confirmed MERS patient, who is from South Korea, was reported to be in stable condition at a hospital in Guangdong province.