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The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is today (June 10) closely monitoring 13 additional cases of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) reported by Korea and one additional case reported to the World Health Organization (WHO) by the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
According to the health authority of Korea, the 13 cases are:
* Ten patients/visitors of the emergency department of Samsung Medical Center;
* Two visitors who had stayed in a ward in Konyang University Hospital and a ward in Dae-Chung Hospital in which a confirmed patient was admitted; and
* One visitor who had stayed in the same ward in Hallym University Medical Center as another confirmed patient.
To date, 107 MERS cases have been reported by Korea. In addition, another case was exported from Korea to Mainland China.
Meanwhile, according to the WHO, the case in the UAE is a woman aged 77 with underlying illnesses. She developed symptoms on May 21 and was admitted to hospital on May 28. She is currently in critical condition. She has no history of contact with known risk factors in the 14 days prior to onset of symptoms.
To date, in addition to the laboratory-confirmed MERS cases involved in the outbreak in Korea, 1 155 cases have been reported to the WHO, including at least 444 deaths. Of note, 1 130 cases globally were confirmed in nine Middle East countries, including 1 015 in the KSA, 73 in the United Arab Emirates, 13 in Qatar, 12 in Jordan, six each in Iran and Oman, three in Kuwait, and one each in Lebanon and Yemen.
"We again urge the public to pay special attention to safety during travel, taking due consideration of health risks of the places of visit," a spokesman for the CHP said.
"In view of the latest situation in Korea, the public should avoid unnecessary travel to Korea, in particular those with chronic illnesses. Travellers in Korea and the Middle East should avoid unnecessary visits to health-care facilities," the spokesman advised.
"In addition, travellers to the Middle East should avoid going to farms, barns or markets with camels, and avoid contact with sick persons and animals, especially camels, birds or poultry. We strongly advise travel agents organising tours to the Middle East to abstain from arranging camel rides and activities involving direct contact with camels, which are a known risk factor for acquiring MERS.
"According to the WHO, among the recently exported cases in which the patients reported performing Umrah in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), investigations revealed that they had either visited a HCF or had come into contact with camels or raw camel products while in the KSA. As Ramadan will begin in mid-June, pilgrims preparing to go to the KSA for Umrah should be vigilant against MERS," the spokesman said.
The CHP will maintain close communication with the WHO and the relevant health authorities. Members of the public and the health-care sector should heighten vigilance and stay alert to the latest situation.
Ends/Wednesday, June 10, 2015
Issued at HKT 14:49
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