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The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health is today (June 17) closely monitoring eight additional cases of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) reported by Korea and four additional cases reported to the World Health Organization (WHO) by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) (three cases) and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) (one case).
According to the preliminary information of the health authority of Korea, they are:
* Three patients and a visitor who had stayed in the emergency room of Samsung Medical Center during the period from May 26 to 29;
* A patient who had contact with another confirmed case in Hallym University Medical Centre from May 27 to May 29;
* A health-care worker who had contact with another confirmed case in Kyunghee University Hospital on June 5;
* A patient who had contact with another confirmed case in Pyeongtaek Good Morning Hospital on May 27; and
* A health-care worker of Samsung Medical Center.
To date, 161 MERS cases have been confirmed by Korea. In addition, another case was exported from Korea to Mainland China.
Meanwhile, according to the WHO, the three cases in KSA involve two men and one woman aged 60 to 77 who have underlying illnesses. They had onset of symptoms between May 23 and June 2. One patient has a history of frequent contact with sheep as well as consuming their raw milk, while two other patients had visited hospitals with MERS outbreaks. The 77-year-old male patient passed away on June 11 and the other patients are currently hospitalised for treatment. In addition, two previously confirmed patients died.
The case in the UAE is a woman aged 65 with underlying illnesses. She developed symptoms on May 31 and was admitted to hospital on June 6. She is currently in a 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, 1 167 cases have been reported to the WHO, including at least 447 deaths. Of note, 1 142 cases globally were confirmed in nine Middle East countries, including 1 026 in the KSA, 74 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 health-care sector should heighten vigilance and stay alert to the latest situation.
Ends/Wednesday, June 17, 2015
Issued at HKT 15:16
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