Number of type-A influenza patients in military rises rapidly

SEOUL, Aug. 25 (Yonhap) -- The number of South Korean soldiers confirmed to have
been infected with type-A influenza is rising fast, officials said Tuesday.
"A total of 476 soldiers have been found to have been infected," said Won
Tae-jae, defense ministry spokesman. The military reported its first type-A flu
case in early July.
"About 290 of them have been treated, with 183 still under quarantine," Won said.
As of Monday, more than 3,000 South Koreans have been diagnosed with the new H1N1
virus since it was first reported here in May.
The military plans to start a 9.2-billion-won (US$7.5 million) project to
vaccinate its entire 655,000-strong force against type-A influenza later this
year.
Two South Korean civilians died from the disease earlier this month, the first
deaths reported in the country.
samkim@yna.co.kr
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