President calls for calm in dealing with spread of new flu

SEOUL, Sept. 14 (Yonhap) -- President Lee Myung-bak on Monday called for a calm
reaction to the spread of the Influenza A, saying panic could inflict as much
damage to the country as the flu itself.

The call came as the country reported its seventh flu-related death Sunday.
"It would be a problem not to take precautions, but it will also be a very
serious problem if excessive precaution creates fear," the president said in a
meeting with his top aides at the presidential office Cheong Wa Dae.
"It is important to take precautionary measures on one hand, but on the other, we
must remain calm and carry out our daily activities," Lee added, noting most of
the people diagnosed with the new flu have already been treated and released.
Over 7,500 people have been diagnosed with the new flu in the country as of last
week since the first case was reported here early May.
bdk@yna.co.kr
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