ID :
66958
Mon, 06/22/2009 - 10:55
Auther :

S. Korea's new flu cases surge to 115


SEOUL, June 21 (Yonhap) -- An additional 10 South Koreans were found to have been
infected with the new Influenza A, bringing the nation's total number of flu
infections to 115 as of Sunday, health authorities here said.

The 10 patients tested positive for the H1N1 virus after returning from trips
overseas, the health ministry said in a statement. A total of 41 patients,
including the newly infected, are being treated at state-designated hospitals.
The latest infections, mostly of people returning from trips to the United
States, come as the disease seems to be spreading at a faster pace across the
world.
South Korea had been considered relatively insulated from the highly contagious
virus, originally called "swine flu." But authorities worry that infections could
increase, with many Koreans returning home or taking overseas trips with the
summer vacation season drawing near.
On June 11, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the new H1N1 flu the
first influenza pandemic since 1968 and raised its disease alert status to the
highest level.
A total of 76 countries have officially reported some 36,000 infections and 163
deaths related to the disease, mostly in Mexico and the U.S, according to the
WHO's latest tally.
No deaths have been reported in South Korea.
hayney@yna.co.kr
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