SEOUL, June 16-- Four more cases of infection with the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) were reported in South Korea Tuesday, while three deaths were added among the confirmed cases, the health ministry said.

Four more people were confirmed positive for the deadly viral disease, bringing the total contagion to 154 since the first case was identified on May 20, according to the Ministry of Health and Welfare.

Among the new cases were three people catching the virus at the emergency room of Samsung Medical Center in Seoul for two days from May 27 when they nursed their hospitalized families.

Three confirmed patients passed away, raising the death toll to 19 and the fatality rate to over 12 percent. Among the three deaths, two patients had no other illnesses except the MERS infection.

Three MERS patients were discharged from hospitals as they completely recovered after being infected. The total number of hospital discharge increased to 17.

The number of people quarantined as potential carriers increased from 5,216 on Monday to 5,586 Tuesday. Those ordered to stay at home were 5,238, with those isolated at the government- designated hospitals being 348.

People discharged from the self-quarantine and forcible isolation rose 3,122 on Monday to 3,505 Tuesday.