S. Korea confirms 3rd case of Influenza A

(ATTN: REPLACES date for probable case with confirmed case in 3rd para; ADDS details
in 6th para)
SEOUL, May 7 (Yonhap) -- South Korean health authorities confirmed the country's
third case of Influenza A Thursday about a week after the first confirmed
infection was identified.

The 62-year-old woman was found to have been infected with the H1N1 virus after
returning from a recent trip to the United States, according to the Korea Center
for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC).
This marked the third confirmed influenza A case in South Korea after a
51-year-old nun was confirmed to contract the contagious disease on Saturday. On
Tuesday, another case was reported after a fellow nun tested positive for the
virus, raising concerns over a possible person-to-person transmission.
Both were released from the hospital after showing no sign of flu symptoms.
The latest flu patient, reportedly on the same plane as the two nuns, will be
discharged from the hospital Thursday since she is no longer showing symptoms of
the illness. She has been quarantined and treated with anti-viral drugs at a
state-designated hospital since Sunday, the KCDC said.
The disease control center said that it has tracked down all those who may have
had contact with the patient since her return to South Korea. It added, however,
that there is slim chance the disease will spread through person-to-person
infections.
As of late Wednesday, 172 people have been tested for suspected flu symptoms
here, most of which turned out to be negative. The number of additional confirmed
and suspected cases has died down in recent days.
Since the outbreak was reported in Mexico last month, the Seoul government has
been stepping up efforts to stem its spread by intensifying monitoring of inbound
travelers, while advising people not to travel to affected nations.
According to the World Health Organization, Influenza A, widely known as swine
flu, has claimed 29 lives in Mexico and two in the United States. No deaths have
been reported in South Korea.
kokobj@yna.co.kr
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