Korea battles MERS outbreak
- 9 years ago
We start with the latest on the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome, or MERS outbreak in Korea.
Despite the rising number of infections in the country, international medical experts say the situation is not serious enough to pose a risk to other countries and require a coordinated global response.
The World Health Organization made the statement on Wednesday, saying that although more cases are expected to appear for the time being, the outbreak does not meet the conditions for a so-called "public health emergency of international concern."
The organization said it won't issue any travel or trade restrictions for Korea, but did urge all countries to be more vigilant.
Korea's health authorities said their primary goal is to contain the MERS outbreak by the end of the month and ensure the virus does not infect people outside medical institutions.
As of now, 20 people have died out of the one-hundred-62 confirmed cases in the country.
And of the 123 patients who are undergoing treatment at hospitals, seventeen patients are said to be unstable.
So far, out of six-and-a-half thousand people who have been under quarantine, nearly four-thousand have been cleared of infection.
Despite the rising number of infections in the country, international medical experts say the situation is not serious enough to pose a risk to other countries and require a coordinated global response.
The World Health Organization made the statement on Wednesday, saying that although more cases are expected to appear for the time being, the outbreak does not meet the conditions for a so-called "public health emergency of international concern."
The organization said it won't issue any travel or trade restrictions for Korea, but did urge all countries to be more vigilant.
Korea's health authorities said their primary goal is to contain the MERS outbreak by the end of the month and ensure the virus does not infect people outside medical institutions.
As of now, 20 people have died out of the one-hundred-62 confirmed cases in the country.
And of the 123 patients who are undergoing treatment at hospitals, seventeen patients are said to be unstable.
So far, out of six-and-a-half thousand people who have been under quarantine, nearly four-thousand have been cleared of infection.