South Korea Reports 14 More MERS Cases, Fifth death

South Korean health officials on Sunday (June 7) reported 14 more cases of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), bringing the total in the country’s outbreak to 64, and said a fifth person infected with the virus had died.

South Korea’s outbreak of the often-deadly MERS virus, first reported on May 20, is the largest outside the Middle East, prompting public fear and questions over the government’s initial response.

“We confirmed that an additional fourteen cases tested positive for MERS. Ten among them were found at Samsung Medical Centre. I will mention the name of the hospital, because we already opened it. Thus, there are total 64 cases of MERS, including five victims,” said Director of Public Health Policy at Ministry of Health and Welfare, Kwon Jun-wook.

Kwon felt that further cases would be announced.

“There are a number of patients who have been confirmed as MERS cases yesterday and today. I assume that there will be more cases (confirmed) tomorrow,” Kwon added.

LACK OF TRANSPARENCY

The government, criticised over its lack of transparency in handling the outbreak, bowed to public pressure on Sunday and identified 24 health facilities where infections took place or MERS patients visited.

In the capital city, Seoul, some South Korean residents and tourists were seen wearing face masks.

One tourist from Hong Kong said felt she needed to protect herself.

“When we see Korean news in Hong Kong, the news shows us that it is so dangerous here. So we wear mask to protect ourselves,” said Il Lok Yiu.

“I put a mask on because my wife told me to wear it when I go out. I am afraid if I get infected with a virus that I could infect others as well,” 31-year-old South Korean resident Kim Jung-min added.

The WHO has not recommended travel curbs, but about 7,000 people from mainland China, Hong Kong and Taiwan had cancelled trips to South Korea as of June 2, the Korea Tourism Organisation said.

First identified in humans in 2012, MERS is caused by a coronavirus from the same family as the one that triggered Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome. However, MERS has a much higher death rate at 38 percent, according to World Health Organisation figures.