South Korea has first two Mers deaths
31 July 2015 By
Authorities in South Korea have declared “war” on what they say is the worst outbreak of a deadly respiratory Mers virus outside the Middle East. The country said it was stepping up its response on Friday after fourth victim died and the number of people infected with the disease rose to 41.
More than 1,600 people have been placed now under quarantine, media reports said, while the outbreak of the disease, for which there is no vaccine, has led to the temporary closure of more than 1,000 schools and colleges.
Thousands of people have called a government hotline seeking advice. It is the worst Mers outbreak outside Saudi Arabia, where the respiratory virus is thought to have originated three years ago.
In echoes of the severe acute respiratory syndrome [Sars] outbreak more than a decade ago, anxious residents were stocking up on surgical masks and airports were stepping up screening efforts after the outbreak in South Korea was traced to a 68-year-old man who had been traveling in the Middle East. The fourth Mers patient to die was a 76-year-old man who had tested positive for the virus in late May. The victim, who was not named, had come into close contact with the first confirmed Mers patient, Yonhap news agency said.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) said South Korea could expect more cases, but cautioned against unnecessary panic. Most of the cases are linked to a single hospital south of Seoul, and there is no evidence of “sustained transmission in the community,” the UN health body said.
The mayor of Seoul, Park Won-soon, criticised the government for not reporting the Mers diagnosis of a doctor at a large hospital in Seoul who is believed to have been at a public meeting attended by about 1,500 people while infectious. “From now on, Seoul city is embarking on a war against Mers. We will take swift and stern measures to protect the lives and safety of our citizens,” Park told reporters Friday.
Symptoms include fever, coughing and shortness of breath, with an average incubation period of five to six days. It can be contracted only through close contact with sufferers, but camels are also thought capable of spreading the virus. South Korea has quarantined 17 camels at the country’s zoos.
Source:http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jun/05/south-korea-declares-war-on-mers-virus-as-death-toll-rises
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Source:http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jun/05/south-korea-declares-war-on-mers-virus-as-death-toll-rises
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回覆刪除I think the Korea government was responsible for the spread of Mers because they didn't explain the real condition to the public. And the Korean also didn't realize the seriousness of Mers's infection. But fortunately , the epidemic condition didn't spread Taiwan ; otherwise , it would be very serious.
回覆刪除I think the Korea government should take the responsibility of the worst outbreak of Mers, because of not dealing it serious enough and not telling the truth to the public until it was out of control. Hope the government learn from this lesson and will be well prepare if another virus outbreak.
回覆刪除Everyone is scared of this virus now because it seems that there isn't any vaccines we can use to fight for that. It sounds really terrible and Korea didn't take good action to defense this dreadful virus; maybe they should indeed reflect on themselves and learn the lesson, or nobody will want to travel Korea, though.
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