S. Korea confirms 18 more flu cases

By Lee Youkyung
SEOUL, July 13 (Yonhap) -- South Korean health authorities reported 18 more
confirmed cases of type-A flu on Monday, bringing the nation's infection toll to
482.

The new patients, including two Indonesians, tested positive for the H1N1 virus
after showing flu-like symptoms including fever and sore throat, the Ministry for
Health, Welfare and Family Affairs said.
Most were diagnosed with the disease after entering the country from overseas or
through contact with individuals infected with type-A flu, the ministry said.
It added that an investigation was underway to determine the transmission route
of three elementary school students in the Seoul metropolitan area. The 6th
graders are believed to be the second case of local transmission as they have
neither gone overseas nor had any known contact with Influenza A patients.
South Korea has been relatively insulated from the pandemic that has claimed more
than 400 lives worldwide since April, with no deaths linked to the virus being
reported in the country.
Concern is growing, however, that the infection rate here may be picking up pace
as the number of locally transmitted cases is feared to rise.
As of Monday, 147 South Koreans remained in isolation for treatment at
state-designated hospitals. Another 335 were released after having fully
recovered from the flu.
ylee@yna.co.kr
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