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Already six fatalities in South Korea by Mers virus
More than 80 people in South Korea have been infected with the dangerous Mers virus. Now the sixth death has been confirmed. Thousands of people were quarantined. The current outbreak of severe respiratory disease is the largest outside the Middle East.
Mers claims sixth death toll
Another human being succumbed to the viral disease Mers in South Korea. The news agency AFP reports that one man died in the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (Mers) at the age of 80 in a hospital in Daejeon, 140 kilometers south of Seoul. According to the local authorities, this is the sixth deaths of Mers in the East Asian country. In addition, the number of new infections on Monday was as high as ever: 23 new cases were reported. It is said that most patients are linked to a man who was found to have the virus after a Bahrain trip on May 20.
Thousands quarantined
In South Korea, a total of 87 people have been infected with the virus since the outbreak two weeks ago. It is the largest outbreak of severe respiratory disease outside the Middle East. The cases have so far been limited to staff and patients of hospitals and their relatives. Hundreds of events were canceled as a precaution against further spread. In addition, just under 1,900 schools - mainly in the capital Seoul and surrounding area - were temporarily closed. In addition, 2,300 people were quarantined. South Korea's government now wants to locate the cell phones of those affected, to make sure that they do not leave their apartment. The government, following criticism of its initial response to the onset of the disease, has now announced comprehensive measures to prevent its spread.
Mers virus detected in Germany
The Mers virus was first detected in 2012 in Saudi Arabia. It is a new strain from the group of coronaviruses. The disease is usually associated with flu-like symptoms, such as fever, cough, and shortness of breath. However, pneumonia can also develop in severe cases and kidney failure can also occur. Although Mers is not as easily transmitted between people as SARS, it causes more death than many other infectious diseases. In the Arabian Peninsula, and especially in Saudi Arabia, most Mers illnesses occur. The new coronavirus was also found in other parts of the world, the infections were usually introduced. Only a few months ago it was reported that the deadly Mers virus had been diagnosed in Germany. This was a patient who had returned from a trip from Abu Dhabi. The World Health Organization (WHO) had a total of 1,185 confirmed Mers cases as of June 4, with at least 443 deaths. (Ad)