 |
|
Seoul's Mayor, Park
Won-Soon, pictured in May 2014 ©Ed Jones (AFP)
|
 |
|
Graphic on the MERS
virus, now killing 4 people in South Korea, the biggest outbreak outside of
Saudi Arabia since its discovery in 2012 ©- (AFP Graphic)
|
South Korea reported on Friday a fourth death from Middle
East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), as an infected doctor fuelled fears of a
fresh surge in cases and prompted Seoul's mayor to declare "war" on
the virus.
Five new cases overnight
took the number of infected people to 41, in what has become the largest MERS
outbreak outside Saudi Arabia, with close to 2,000 people in quarantine or
under observation.
AFP report continues:
The latest fatality was a
76-year-old male patient who died Thursday after testing positive for the virus
on May 21.
Criticized for its lack
of transparency in addressing the health scare, the Health Ministry finally
confirmed the name of the hospital where the first patient to be diagnosed with
MERS was treated.
The ministry said anyone
who had visited the hospital in Pyeongtaek, about 65 kilometres (40 miles)
south of Seoul, between May 15-29 should report to a clinic for screening.
The government had
initially declined to name any hospitals treating MERS cases, arguing that it
could cause them unfair commercial losses.
- Infected doctor fuels fears -
Of particular concern was
the positive test of a doctor at a major Seoul hospital who was understood to
have taken part in public meetings attended by up to 1,500 people while
infectious.
Seoul Mayor Park Won-Soon
criticised the government for not sharing information about the doctor's
movements, and said his administration would take the lead in ensuring public
safety.
"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.
Health Minister Moon
Hyong-Pyo apologised for the public anxiety caused by the outbreak, but
rejected Park's criticisms, saying the mayor was encouraging "mistrust and
misunderstanding".
The government had been
handling the doctor's case carefully to avoid public panic, Moon added.
More than 1,000 schools,
from kindergartens to colleges, have temporarily shut down across the country,
while the government's MERS hotline has been taking thousands of calls a day.
MERS has now infected
1,161 people globally, with 436 deaths. More than 20 countries have been
affected, with most cases in Saudi Arabia.
The virus is considered a
deadlier but less infectious cousin of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome
(SARS), which killed hundreds of people when it appeared in Asia in 2003.
- Possible mutation? -
The World Health
Organization has said it expects more infections in South Korea, while
stressing there was currently "no evidence of sustained transmission in
the community".
A health ministry
statement said a WHO team would visit next week, citing concerns that the virus
has been showing a "slightly different" pattern from the one detected
in Middle East.
"We have yet to
determine whether there has been any mutation," said Choi Bo-Yul, the head
of a civilian task force set up to help with the outbreak.
Among the recent
infections was an Korean Air Force chief master sergeant, who represented the
first MERS case among members of the military.
The airman is serving at
the air base in Osan, south of Seoul, which also hosts the US 51st Fighter
Wing.
In a message to base
personnel, the fighter unit's chief medical officer, Colonel Krystal Murphy,
said around 100 people who had been in contact with the infected man had been
asked to remain at home.
"We recommend everyone
exercise caution and use good hygiene practices to prevent any further
spread," Myers said.
No comments:
Post a Comment