S. Korea confirms 10 additional flu cases

(ATTN: UPDATES headline, lead with latest cases)
By Koh Byung-joon
SEOUL, June 18 (Yonhap) -- Ten additional cases of Influenza A, including one
affecting a U.S. citizen, have been confirmed, bringing the total number of new
flu infections here to 84, South Korean health authorities said Thursday.

The 10 patients tested positive for the H1N1 virus after returning from trips
overseas, the Ministry for Health, Welfare and Family Affairs said in a
statement. They are all being treated at state-designated hospitals.
The latest infections, mostly of students who had studied in the U.S., come as
the disease seems to be spreading at a faster pace across the world.
On Wednesday, Brazil reported a variant of the new flu virus, raising fears that
it may become more difficult to treat the disease that causes coughing, high
fever and throat pain.
Last week, the World Health Organization stated a pandemic is underway, raising
its disease alert status to the highest level.
South Korea has remained relatively insulated from the virus. As of Thursday
afternoon, 21 people patients were under close observation for treatment at
state-designated hospitals.
But as the summer vacation season draws near, experts worry that infection could
accelerate as Koreans studying abroad in hard-hit countries such as the U.S. and
Australia return home.
According to the latest tally by the World Health Organization, 76 countries have
officially reported a total of 35,928 infections and 163 deaths related to the
disease, mostly in Mexico and the U.S.
No deaths have been reported in South Korea.
kokobj@yna.co.kr
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