S. Korea confirms 31 more flu cases

SEOUL, July 18 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's health authorities said Saturday that
they have confirmed 31 more cases of influenza A, raising the number of flu
inflections here to 727.
The new patients, including an elementary school student and a staff member with
an international choir competition, tested positive for the H1N1 virus after
showing flu-like symptoms, the Ministry for Health, Welfare and Family Affairs
said in an emailed statement.
The student was believed to have contracted the disease through contact with
other recently confirmed patients in school. The staff member worked for a choir
event that recently canceled part of its schedule due to the spread of the virus
among foreign participants, the ministry said.
As of Saturday morning, a total of 142 people remain in isolation for treatment,
with the other confirmed patients having been discharged from hospitals as they
showed no further flu symptoms.
South Korea has been relatively insulated from the global pandemic, which has
claimed hundreds of lives since the disease was first identified in April.
No deaths have been reported here but concerns are growing that the disease may
become more widespread as the number of reported infections is rising fast.
In a precautionary move, the government earlier said it has set aside 174.8
billion won (US$134.4 million) to secure enough vaccine to inoculate around 27
percent of the nation's population against the flu virus. The vaccine will be
available beginning in November, ahead of the winter flu season, it added.
kokobj@yna.co.kr
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