South Korea has introduced a new law aimed at curbing a recent outbreak of the deadly Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) which has killed more than 30 people in the country.

On Thursday, the South Korean parliament passed the law which could punish with fines and jail sentences those who defy anti-MERS measures and fail to provide state investigators with honest answers about how they came into contact with the infection.

"False testimony would entail up two years in prison or 20 million won ($18,000) in fines," the South Korean Health Ministry said in a statement, adding that the law compelled interviewees to “provide honest answers.”

The legislation replaces a previous one which included a maximum two-million won fine to those who concealed the truth.

This is while two deaths on Friday brought the total MERS fatalities in South Korea to 31 since May.

Official figures show a total 181 people have been diagnosed with the infection so far. The figures also indicate that 69 people are being treated for the disease, 13 of them being in critical condition. About 80 others have recovered.

A total of 2,931 people are currently in isolation across the country.

The outbreak of MERS in South Korea started on May 20 when a 68-year-old man was diagnosed with the disease. He had returned from a trip to Saudi Arabia.

MERS was first identified in Saudi Arabia in 2012. The disease is part of the corona virus family of viruses, which includes the common cold and SARS.

It can cause symptoms including fever, breathing problems, pneumonia, and kidney failure.

There is no known cure or vaccine available for the disease yet.

SZH/GHN/HMV