The risk of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) spreading in China has significantly increased, South China Morning Post reported, citing a statement from the National Health and Family Planning Commission. Spokesperson Mao Qunan told a news briefing in Beijing that the government’s prevention and control measures were focused on preventing cases of the virus from entering China, but he sidestepped the issue of whether Beijing would follow suit with Taipei, Hong Kong and Macao by issuing travel warnings regarding South Korea, where 108 cases have been reported and where China’s sole case to date – a Korean man currently under quarantine – originated.