South Korean becomes China's first confirmed MERS case
Updated: 2015-05-29 17:33
(Agencies)
|
|||||||||||
Two health workers wearing masks are seen in this May 28, 2015 photo in South Korea. [Photo/IC] |
BEIJING - China said on Friday a South Korean man had tested positive for Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), China's first confirmed case, but that it had not found any symptoms in the 38 people who had close contact with him.
Authorities in South Korea said earlier that the man had skipped out of voluntary home quarantine to take a trip to China.
The World Health Organization said on Friday 10 people in South Korea were confirmed as having MERS, but there has been no sustained human-to-human spread. The UN agency said that it was not recommending screening of passengers or that travel or trade restrictions be imposed on South Korea due to the outbreak.
China's National Health and Family Planning Commission confirmed the man's diagnosis after laboratory tests on Friday, the agency said in a statement on its website.
The patient, who is in isolation in hospital in the southern city of Huizhou, had a fever and a chest examination showed possible pneumonia, the National Health and Family Planning Commission said.
The health authorities said 38 people who had had close contact with the victim had not exhibited "unusual" symptoms.
The 44-year-old man, who is a son of another patient who was confirmed last week to have been infected in South Korea, had travelled to Huizhou after first arriving in Hong Kong on Tuesday, according to South Korean and Chinese authorities.
Two new victims are believed to have caught the virus from the first case confirmed last week, a 68-year-old man who had travelled to Bahrain in April and May, and returned to South Korea via Qatar.
First identified in humans in 2012, MERS is caused by a coronavirus from the same family as the one that triggered China's deadly 2003 outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome. There is no cure or vaccine.
Last week, South Korea's Health Ministry said there were 1,142 cases of MERS in 23 countries and 465 deaths had been reported by May 16. Of the total, 1,117 were in the Middle East.
Related Stories
Suspected S. Korean infectee with MERS goes to China 2015-05-29 10:25
S China reports first suspected case of imported MERS 2015-05-29 09:48
Beijing made 'tight plans' to prevent spread of MERS virus 2015-05-29 08:07
MERS-infected S.Koreans rise to 7, 1 suspect leaves for China 2015-05-28 18:13
MERS virus may spread in air 2014-07-23 07:37
Today's Top News
Blatter defies calls to quit as FIFA scandal widens
Chinese rifle shooters shine at Munich World Cup
HK shines regulatory spotlight on Hanergy
Controversial Fudan University promotional video taken offline
British Queen makes references to China in keynote speech
Bayern cashes in on Chinese fans' frenzy for European soccer
German rail giant mulls buying trains from China
Blair to resign as Middle East Quartet envoy
Hot Topics
Lunar probe , China growth forecasts, Emission rules get tougher, China seen through 'colored lens', International board,
Editor's Picks
Premier Li embarks on Latin America visit |
What do we know about AIIB |
Full coverage of Boao Forum for Asia |
Annual legislative and political advisory sessions |
Festival Special: Apps that make holiday shopping easier |
Listed firms caught in anti-corruption net |