The central government is strengthening measures to minimize any potential impact from the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) within its borders, amid an outbreak in neighboring South Korea that had claimed the lives of at least two people as of Wednesday.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga told a news conference on Tuesday that related ministries are working together to beef up measures in an effort to prevent the virus from spreading to Japan.

"All quarantine institutions (in Japan) have been instructed on steps to be taken in case of suspected infections," Suga said.