Korean health officials reported (computer translated) the biggest one day increase in cases today with 23, which brings the country total to 87 since May 20. In addition, the sixth fatality was reported.
According to the health authority of Korea, they are:
* Fifteen patients and two health-care workers of the emergency department of Samsung Medical Center;
* Four in-patients of Dae-Chung Hospital and two in-patients of Konyang University Hospital. They had been admitted to the same ward with the same confirmed patient from May 25 to 28 and from May 28 to 30 respectively.
Countries in the region are advising their citizens on the South Korea MERS situation. Malaysia advised its nationals to avoid South Korea and Singapore postponed or cancelled all school trips to the country.
Philippines officials are also advising their citizens in Korea saying, “In view of the rising number of people infected with MERS-CoV in Korea, the Philippine embassy in Seoul is advising Filipinos staying and residing in the country to take precautionary measures against the disease.”
The Hong Kong Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health said today, “We again urge the public to pay special attention to safety during travel, taking due consideration of health risks of the places of visit,” a spokesman for the CHP said. “In view of the latest situation in Korea, travellers should avoid unnecessary visits to health-care facilities (HCFs) in Korea.”
In preparation for potential importation of MERS-CoV cases from South Korea, the Taiwan Centers for Disease Control (Taiwan CDC) has planned to distribute MERS-CoV Health Advice pamphlets to all passengers on flights arriving in Taiwan from South Korea. The first batch of 220,000 pamphlets were published and sent to the Civil Aeronautics Administration for distribution to airline companies.
To increase clinician and patient awareness of the need to consider MERS-CoV infection and discuss travel, occupation, contact, and cluster (TOCC) history, Taiwan CDC has produced posters to be put up at health units and healthcare facilities. Travelers who have visited South Korea and the Middle East during the past 14 days and developed respiratory symptoms are urged to put on a facemask and notify the physician of their recent travel history voluntarily.
On Friday, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a travel notice for South Korea due to the MERS outbreak.
