S. Korea confirms 7 additional flu cases

By Koh Byung-joon
SEOUL, June 24 (Yonhap) -- South Korea has confirmed seven additional cases of
new flu, including five Americans, bringing the total number of infections here
to 128, health authorities said Wednesday.

The patients -- mostly American high-school students on a trip to South Korea --
tested positive for the H1N1 virus after arriving here earlier this week, the
Ministry for Health, Welfare and Family Affairs said in a statement. They are all
being treated at state-designated hospitals.
The latest cases come as the spread of the contagious disease is picking up pace
across the globe.
In response, the World Health Organization (WHO) recently declared that a
pandemic is underway, raising its disease alert status to the highest level.
South Korea has remained relatively insulated from the virus but it has begun
spreading faster in recent days. As of Wednesday morning, 35 people including one
suspected patient are under close observation, with others having been released
from hospitals after showing no further symptoms such as coughing, fever and
throat pain.
According to the latest tally by the WHO, more than 50,000 confirmed cases of new
flu infections have been reported worldwide since it was first identified in
April with a total of 231 deaths blamed on the contagious disease.
No deaths have been reported in South Korea.
kokobj@yna.co.kr
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