South Korea discovered new cases of MERS infection

The 61-year-old man was diagnosed with Middle Eastern respiratory tract respiratory syndrome (MERS), currently treated and isolated in Seoul.

MERS virus under a microscope.(Photo: AFP).

The patient returned to Korea from his mission to Kuwait on August 16 - September 6, Reuters leading a speech from the Korean Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC). This is the first time that Korea has recorded new MERS cases after the July 2015 outbreak caused 38 deaths.

According to KCDC director, Jeong Eun-kyeong, a 61-year-old patient with diarrhea, went straight from the airport to Samsung Medical Center. He is currently treated and quarantined at Seoul National University Hospital. In addition, 20 people including flight attendants and medical staff exposed patients who were isolated at home.

KCDC announced that it would strengthen checking all flights originating from the Middle East."We and the local government will do everything possible to prevent MERS infection," Jeong said.

Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) is a group A infectious disease caused by a new strain of coronavirus (MERS-CoV). It is similar to the SARS virus (severe acute respiratory syndrome) or the common cold.

MERS cases have been reported to date who have lived in or traveled to the Middle East, or had close contact with patients. MERS-infected people exhibit mild symptoms such as fever, worsening cough such as dyspnea, pneumonia, acute respiratory failure requiring mechanical ventilation. Sometimes, the disease is accompanied by gastrointestinal symptoms such as diarrhea and organ failure, especially kidney failure, a high risk of death.

Some people infected with the virus may have no symptoms or very mild clinical manifestations, making it difficult to detect. Up to now, the disease has not yet had a specific treatment drug and no vaccine has been available.