BEIJING -- Chinese quarantine on Tuesday issued a notice alerting travelers to the Middle East to guard against camel flu. The virus, Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), is a respiratory disease that has killed hundreds of people.

With the cases of infections on the rise, travelers to the Middle East should take general hygiene measures to avoid contact with people showing symptoms, as well as animals, according to a General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine statement.

The agency requires those returning from countries or regions with MERS outbreaks to report to quarantine and inspection authorities if they are experiencing fever, coughing or breathing difficulties.

According to the World Health Organization, 2,067 laboratory-confirmed cases of infection with MERS have been reported as of Aug. 28, including at least 720 deaths.

The organization expects additional cases of infection to be reported from the Middle East, and that cases will continue to be exported to other countries by individuals catching the disease after exposure to animals or animal products.