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The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health today (June 5) provides the latest information of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) involving an affected hospital in Korea.
"So far, nosocomial transmissions of MERS-coronavirus (MERS-CoV) were known to have occurred in at least six health-care facilities in Korea. Today, the health authority of Korea released the name of one of the six health-care facilities: Pyeongtaek St. Mary's Hospital located at 439-3, Segyo-dong, Pyeongtaek-si, Gyeonggi-do. According to the health authority of Korea, the index case of this MERS outbreak in Korea was hospitalised there from May 15 to 17 and majority (30 cases out of a total of 41) of the confirmed MERS cases involved in this outbreak have been exposed at this hospital. Today, the Korean Government is asking people who had attended this hospital between May 15 and 29 to report to them for assessment." a spokesman for the CHP said.
"In view of the latest information from Korea, we appeal to members of the public who had visited Pyeongtaek St. Mary's Hospital between May 15 and 29 to contact the CHP through our hotline (2125 1111) for further assessment," the spokesman added.
"We again urge the public to pay special attention to safety during travel, taking due consideration of health risks of the places of visit. 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. They should also avoid unnecessary visits to health-care facilities (HCFs). In addition, in view of the latest situation in Korea, travellers should avoid unnecessary visits to HCFs in Korea," the spokesman advised.
The CHP will maintain close communication with the World Health Organization and the health authority of Korea. Members of the public and the health-care sector should heighten vigilance and stay alert to the latest situation.
Ends/Friday, June 5, 2015
Issued at HKT 20:13
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