S. Korea confirms 37 more flu cases

SEOUL, July 30 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's health authorities Thursday confirmed an
additional 37 cases of influenza A, bringing the total number of infections of
the contagious disease in the country to 1,364.
The patients, including three participants in a company orientation and three
others in a camp outing, tested positive for the H1N1 virus, the Ministry for
Health, Welfare and Family Affairs said in an e-mailed statement.
As of Thursday morning, 72 people remained in isolation at state-designated
hospitals for treatment with 412 being kept at home. The other patients have
recovered after being treated with antibiotics. No flu-related deaths have been
reported in South Korea.
The government is intensifying efforts to brace for widespread infections after
it upgraded its disease alert level to the second-highest against the new flu
that has claimed hundreds of lives worldwide since it was first reported in late
April.
It seeks to stockpile enough vaccine to inoculate around 27 percent of the
nation's population against the virus.
kokobj@yna.co.kr
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