ID :
67312
Tue, 06/23/2009 - 19:52
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/67312
The shortlink copeid
S. Korea confirms 4 more cases of type-A flu
By Lee Youkyung
SEOUL, June 23 (Yonhap) -- South Korean health authorities confirmed four more
cases of Influenza A Tuesday, raising the number of infections in the country to
121. Five more suspected cases were also reported.
The Ministry of Health, Welfare and Family Affairs said a 17-year-old girl of
Philippine nationality who was on a high school field trip to South Korea from
Hawaii this week had tested positive for Influenza A. Four of the suspected cases
were found in her group, it said.
The three other confirmed patients are two South Koreans who flew to Seoul from
the United States and a Filipino man who arrived in Seoul from Manila this week,
the ministry said, adding a 22-year-old South Korean woman who returned from
Australia has been quarantined to undergo tests after showing suspected symptoms.
Currently, 43 patients are in isolation for treatment in South Korea. No deaths
have been reported in the country.
Health officials said they are bracing for a massive outbreak amid growing
concern that infections could surge, as young South Koreans studying in the U.S.
and other flu-affected countries are expected to return home in droves during
summer break.
According to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC),
measures will be taken to have South Koreans get vaccinated three times this
fall, once against seasonal flu and twice against Influenza A.
South Koreans usually get vaccinated against flu once during the fall.
The center said health authorities will supply enough seasonal flu vaccines this
year to inoculate 15.5 million people.
While the government has secured a budget to vaccinate 1.3 million people against
Influenza A, it is difficult to predict the exact amount of vaccine that will be
needed, the center said.
"We are closely watching the influenza outbreak in the Southern Hemisphere to
determine what types of flu virus might spread here in the fall," a KCDC official
said. "Measures are being taken to secure enough new flu vaccines."
The World Health Organization (WHO) recently declared that a pandemic is underway
by raising its disease alert level to the highest. According to the latest WHO
tally, 76 countries have reported nearly 36,000 infections and over 160 deaths
from the disease.
ylee@yna.co.kr
(END)
SEOUL, June 23 (Yonhap) -- South Korean health authorities confirmed four more
cases of Influenza A Tuesday, raising the number of infections in the country to
121. Five more suspected cases were also reported.
The Ministry of Health, Welfare and Family Affairs said a 17-year-old girl of
Philippine nationality who was on a high school field trip to South Korea from
Hawaii this week had tested positive for Influenza A. Four of the suspected cases
were found in her group, it said.
The three other confirmed patients are two South Koreans who flew to Seoul from
the United States and a Filipino man who arrived in Seoul from Manila this week,
the ministry said, adding a 22-year-old South Korean woman who returned from
Australia has been quarantined to undergo tests after showing suspected symptoms.
Currently, 43 patients are in isolation for treatment in South Korea. No deaths
have been reported in the country.
Health officials said they are bracing for a massive outbreak amid growing
concern that infections could surge, as young South Koreans studying in the U.S.
and other flu-affected countries are expected to return home in droves during
summer break.
According to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC),
measures will be taken to have South Koreans get vaccinated three times this
fall, once against seasonal flu and twice against Influenza A.
South Koreans usually get vaccinated against flu once during the fall.
The center said health authorities will supply enough seasonal flu vaccines this
year to inoculate 15.5 million people.
While the government has secured a budget to vaccinate 1.3 million people against
Influenza A, it is difficult to predict the exact amount of vaccine that will be
needed, the center said.
"We are closely watching the influenza outbreak in the Southern Hemisphere to
determine what types of flu virus might spread here in the fall," a KCDC official
said. "Measures are being taken to secure enough new flu vaccines."
The World Health Organization (WHO) recently declared that a pandemic is underway
by raising its disease alert level to the highest. According to the latest WHO
tally, 76 countries have reported nearly 36,000 infections and over 160 deaths
from the disease.
ylee@yna.co.kr
(END)
