************************************************
The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is today (July 4) closely monitoring an additional case of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) reported by Korea and six additional cases reported to the World Health Organization (WHO) by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA).
According to the preliminary information of the health authority of Korea, the patient is a doctor of Samsung Medical Centre and the source of infection is under investigation.
To date, 184 MERS cases have been confirmed by Korea (including 33 deaths). In addition, another case was exported from Korea to Mainland China.
Meanwhile, according to the WHO, the six cases in KSA involve three men and three women aged 40 to 65 who have underlying illnesses. They had onset of symptoms between May 30 and June 24. A patient is a family relative of a confirmed case, and a patient is a healthcare worker while two other patients had visited healthcare facilities with MERS outbreaks. The remaining two patients' history of exposure to known risk factors in the 14 days prior to the onset of symptoms is ongoing. All patients are currently hospitalised for treatment. In addition, a previously confirmed patient died.
To date, in addition to the 184 laboratory-confirmed MERS cases in Korea and one exported from Korea to Mainland China, 1 181 cases have been reported to the WHO, including at least 454 deaths. Of note, 1 155 cases globally were confirmed in nine Middle East countries, including 1 037 in the KSA, 76 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 healthcare facilities. 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," the spokesman advised.
The CHP will maintain close communication with the WHO and the relevant health authorities. Members of the public and the healthcare sector should heighten vigilance and stay alert to the latest situation.
Ends/Saturday, July 4, 2015
Issued at HKT 14:05
NNNN
