S. Korea reports 1st confirmed case of type-A influenza

(ATTN: RECASTS lead; REPLACES 2-3 para with official announcement; ADDS details
throughout)
SEOUL, May 2 (Yonhap) -- South Korea reported its first confirmed case of type-A
influenza on Saturday, raising fears that the deadly virus could quickly spread
through person-to-person infections.

A 51-year-old nun who has been quarantined for flu-like symptoms since Tuesday,
after returning from her recent trip to Mexico, was confirmed to be infected with
the influenza, the Korea Center for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) said in
a statement.
"We conducted close tests and found that one of the three probable patients was
infected with the virus," the disease control center said.
She was among the three probable flu patients reported this week. The two others
-- a 44-year-old woman and 57-year-old bus driver -- didn't travel to affected
countries, raising concerns that a person-to-person transmission of the highly
contagious disease has taken place in the country.
The bus driver's tests were negative, but tests are still underway for the
44-year-old woman who lived together with the nun who was confirmed to be
infected with type-A influenza, according to the KCDC.
The new influenza, first reported as "swine flu," is spreading across the globe
at a faster-than-expected pace. According to media reports, it has affected
people in countries including Canada, Spain and New Zealand. Japan recently
reported a suspected new flu case.
South Korea became the 14th country that reported a confirmed case of the virus
and the second among Asian countries following Hong Kong, according to the World
Health Organization.
The Seoul government has been intensifying precautionary efforts by restricting
travel to Mexico, the epicenter of the outbreak, while tightening quarantine
inspections of pork imported from affected countries.
In an additional move, the nation's disease control center said Friday it will
oblige Korean residents in Mexico coming to visit their motherland to stay for a
week at the houses they visit.
kokobj@yna.co.kr
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