Tourists walk with masks at the Gyeongbokgung Palace in Seoul, South Korea, June 8, 2015. [Photo: Xinhua/Yao Qilin]

South Korean President Park Geun-hye has ordered government officials to take all measures to minimize the negative impact of the MERS outbreak on the economy.

Park made the remarks at a cabinet meeting on Tuesday, when confirmed MERS cases have surged to 95 in South Korea since the first case was reported on May 20.

"Ministries including the Strategy and Finance Ministry should carry out preemptive steps to minimize the economic ripple effect due to the spread of MERS. Especially, the (economic) situation in public life should be monitored, including sectors such as tourism, accommodation, retail trade and the leisure industry. "

A World Health Organization investigation team has begun working with health authorities in South Korea to scrutinize the fast spread of the virus.

Dr Keiji Fukuda, WHO's assistant director-general for health security, is co-leading the Joint Mission.

"So I think the role of the international experts here is to learn along with you about what this virus is doing in a new situation and then we will be working very closely with the government to strengthen its effort to bring this under control quickly as possible."

The South Korean Defence Ministry has heightened health checks after a Korean chief master sergeant of the US Air Force tested positive for MERS.

Personnel and visitors are required to take their temperatures before entering the ministry building.