South Korea MERS: Unusual but not unexpected



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In one follow-up of the first Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) in South Korea Since the 2015 outbreak, health officials have reported that the 61-year-old man who traveled to Kuwait on business between 16 August and 6 September.

Middle East Coronavirus Respiratory Syndrome
Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus / National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)

Shortly after returning to the Republic of Korea, he was hospitalized with fever, diarrhea and respiratory symptoms, and is now receiving isolated treatment.

The World Health Organization (WHO) says that while this case is unusual, it is not surprising that the MERS occasionally appears outside the Middle East.

The risk of spread can be minimized through the implementation of rapid response measures, including adequate infection prevention and control measures in health care settings, contact tracing, and public communication. WHO is in discussion with the Korean Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) on the required response and is ready to provide additional support if needed.

The MERS is caused by a new coronavirus (MERS-CoV) that was first identified in Saudi Arabia in 2012. Since then, WHO has continued to monitor the disease, with more than 2,200 laboratory-confirmed cases in the country. 27 countries. Typical symptoms of MERS include fever, cough, and shortness of breath. Pneumonia is common but not always present. Gastrointestinal symptoms, including diarrhea, have also been reported. In about a third of cases, the disease is fatal.

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