South Korea reports 20th MERS death

South Korea reports 20th MERS death
By Hannah Edensor


South Korea has announced its 20th death from the MERS virus as criticism grows over authorities’ ability to contain the outbreak.

A 54-year-old woman died of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome on Wednesday, about two weeks after being diagnosed, the health ministry said.

It also reported eight new patients – including four who had been infected in Samsung Medical Centre in Seoul, considered the epicentre of the outbreak.

The new cases come just a day after the ministry said it was cautiously optimistic that the worst was over as the number of new cases appeared to be falling.

Almost all infections so far have been limited within hospitals.

But several new patients diagnosed in recent days were not among those placed under quarantine.

One patient reported on Tuesday had developed symptoms on Saturday – but continued normal daily activities, including going to work and taking a trip to a public bathhouse.

Another patient – a 55-year-old ambulance driver at the Samsung hospital – also continued to go to work via subway for days after developing symptoms including fever on June 2.

He was officially diagnosed last Friday.

A staff member at Samsung hospital is also among the eight new cases announced on Wednesday, though the health ministry said it was unclear where the 33-year-old had been infected.

About 80 patients, visitors and workers have contracted the virus in the hospital – one of the country’s largest, which suspended most operations on Sunday to stem the further spread of the disease.

The number of people who were exposed to patients and placed under quarantine – either at state facilities or at home – jumped by 922 to more than 6,500 people, the ministry said.

There is no vaccine for MERS which has a mortality rate of 35 per cent, according to the WHO.

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