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Fear of MERS Virus Leads Over 230 South Korean Schools to Close Fear of MERS Virus Leads Over 230 South Korean Schools to Close
(about 9 hours later)
SEOUL, South Korea — More than 230 schools in South Korea have temporarily shut down, officials said on Wednesday, as fears of Middle East respiratory syndrome spread through the country. SEOUL, South Korea — Fears of the deadly virus that causes Middle East respiratory syndrome enveloped South Korea on Wednesday as the authorities nearly doubled the number of quarantined people they say may have been exposed, temporarily closed more than 540 kindergartens and schools and refused to identify the six hospitals where infections had been confirmed.
Thirty South Koreans have tested positive for the virus that causes the disease, which has killed hundreds of people in 25 countries, mostly in Saudi Arabia. The outbreak in South Korea is the largest reported outside the Middle East, where the virus first emerged in 2012 and where a vast majority of the more than 1,100 cases and over 470 deaths reported have occurred. The net result of the government response in South Korea, where the outbreak has suddenly become the largest outside the Middle East, was not only to frighten people but also to discourage many of them from visiting any hospitals — perhaps increasing the possibility that undiscovered and untreated patients could spread the disease even further.
Two of the South Korean patients died on Monday, and three others were in critical condition, health officials said on Wednesday. The authorities were also awaiting test results for 99 people suspected of being infected. The number of people isolated at home or in state-run quarantine centers while officials monitored them for symptoms had risen to 1,364 from 790 a day earlier. Amplifying the anxiety, as well, was a deep skepticism of the government’s handling of emergencies, caused in part by the mismanagement of the ferry disaster last year that killed 304 people, mostly high school students.
So far in South Korea, all the reported cases of the syndrome, known as MERS, were found among medical staff members, patients or visitors at five hospitals. But the school closings were just one demonstration of a widespread public suspicion about the government’s response to the situation.
“A lot of fear we see now is rooted in the distrust of the government and what it says,” said Yu Min-yeong, head of Acase, a crisis management consulting firm based in Seoul.“A lot of fear we see now is rooted in the distrust of the government and what it says,” said Yu Min-yeong, head of Acase, a crisis management consulting firm based in Seoul.
The World Health Organization said on Wednesday that although a large outbreak outside the Middle East was a new development, it was not recommending any screening procedures at South Korean ports of entry, “or travel or trade restrictions with regard to this event.” As of Thursday morning, 35 South Koreans had tested positive for the virus that causes the disease, which has killed hundreds of people in 25 countries, mostly in Saudi Arabia. The virus first emerged three years ago in the Middle East, where the vast majority of the more than 1,100 cases and over 470 deaths reported have occurred. There is also some evidence it can be transmitted from camels to humans.
In an advisory posted on its website, the organization also said that it expected that additional cases would be reported by the South Korean health authorities, but that “consistent application of adequate infection and prevention and public health measures” has stopped transmission of the disease. Two of the South Korean patients died Monday, and three others were in critical condition, health officials said Wednesday. The authorities were also awaiting test results for 99 people suspected of being infected. The number of people isolated at home or in state-run quarantine centers while officials monitored them for symptoms rose to 1,364 from 790 a day earlier.
“There is no reason for people to panic, and nothing so far that suggests to me that the virus has changed to become more dangerous,” said Dr. Allison McGeer, an expert on infection control at Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto. So far in South Korea, all the reported cases of the syndrome, known as MERS, have been found among medical staff members, patients or visitors at six hospitals. But the school closings reflected the fear of a wider exposure.
Still, as the number of cases grew, alarm increased in South Korea, where many people remain traumatized by the sinking of the Sewol ferry in April last year, a disaster that killed 304 people. The high death toll has often been attributed to the government’s failure to respond quickly in the hours immediately after the accident. The World Health Organization said Wednesday that although a large outbreak outside the Middle East was a new development, it was not recommending any screening at South Korean ports of entry, “or travel or trade restrictions with regard to this event.”
Many South Koreans have canceled hospital appointments for fear of infection — a concern critics say was fueled in part by the government’s decision not to reveal the names and locations of the five hospitals where cases have been discovered. Stores have reported a surge in sales of hand-sanitizing products, which the government recommended as a precaution against the virus. The Defense Ministry has urged men to defer their army reserve training if they suspect MERS symptoms. In an advisory posted on its website, the W.H.O. also said it expected that additional cases would be reported by the South Korean health authorities, but that historically, “consistent application of adequate infection and prevention and public health measures” has stopped transmission of the disease.
As officials have traced the path of the virus in the country, they have found evidence of careless infection control in its public health system. The first “index” patient, a 68-year-old employee of an agricultural products company, returned home on May 4 via Qatar after visiting Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia during the previous two weeks. Still, as the number of cases grew, alarm increased in South Korea, where many people remain traumatized by the sinking of the Sewol ferry in April last year. The death toll in that disaster has often been attributed to the government’s failure to respond quickly.
Many South Koreans have canceled hospital appointments for fear of infection — a concern critics say was fueled in part by the government’s decision not to reveal the names and locations of the hospitals where cases have been discovered.
Government health officials said that decision was aimed at preventing a panic surrounding the hospitals, a policy even some lawmakers from the governing Saenuri Party have criticized.
Stores have reported a surge in sales of hand-sanitizing products, which the government recommended as a precaution against the virus — even though it is spread through proximity to coughing and wheezing, not touching.
The Defense Ministry has urged men to defer their army reserve training if they suspect MERS symptoms.
As officials have traced the path of the virus in the country, they have found evidence of careless infection control in its public health system. The first “index” patient, a 68-year-old employee of an agricultural products company, returned home on May 4 via Qatar after visiting Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia.
He developed a fever and cough, both symptoms of MERS, on May 11 and sought care at three clinics. But doctors did not suspect MERS because he did not tell them about his Middle East trip. A doctor and a nurse from those clinics later tested positive for the virus.He developed a fever and cough, both symptoms of MERS, on May 11 and sought care at three clinics. But doctors did not suspect MERS because he did not tell them about his Middle East trip. A doctor and a nurse from those clinics later tested positive for the virus.
It was not until May 18 that a doctor at a larger hospital asked the government authorities to test the man for the virus. Two days later, he was declared the country’s first MERS case. Twenty-four other cases have since been traced to that hospital. It was not until May 18 that a doctor at a larger hospital asked the government authorities to test the man for the virus. Two days later, he was declared the country’s first MERS case. Twenty-seven other cases have since been traced to that hospital.
One of them, a 44-year-old man who visited his father there, flew to China on May 26 via Hong Kong, although he had been advised by doctors to stay home. The penalty for ignoring such advice is a fine of up to 3 million won, or $2,700. He tested positive in China and was quarantined there last week.One of them, a 44-year-old man who visited his father there, flew to China on May 26 via Hong Kong, although he had been advised by doctors to stay home. The penalty for ignoring such advice is a fine of up to 3 million won, or $2,700. He tested positive in China and was quarantined there last week.
Another patient, a 58-year-old woman, was infected through contact with the first patient but was released after treatment for asthma. The health authorities did not trace her to another hospital until Sunday. She died of MERS on Monday.Another patient, a 58-year-old woman, was infected through contact with the first patient but was released after treatment for asthma. The health authorities did not trace her to another hospital until Sunday. She died of MERS on Monday.
“We apologize for the inappropriate initial responses,” Moon Hyung-pyo, the minister of health and welfare, said during a news conference on Tuesday. “We were too relaxed.” “We apologize for the inappropriate initial responses,” Moon Hyung-pyo, the minister of health and welfare, said Tuesday at a news conference. “We were too relaxed.”
In yet another case, a 40-year-old man who stayed in the same hospital ward as the first patient to get treatment for pneumonia was released after his condition appeared to have improved. Officials traced him to another hospital on Sunday. The next day, two patients who shared a room with him there tested positive. They were the first tertiary, or third-generation, infections reported. Until then, the government had said that such third-generation cases were unlikely.In yet another case, a 40-year-old man who stayed in the same hospital ward as the first patient to get treatment for pneumonia was released after his condition appeared to have improved. Officials traced him to another hospital on Sunday. The next day, two patients who shared a room with him there tested positive. They were the first tertiary, or third-generation, infections reported. Until then, the government had said that such third-generation cases were unlikely.
Government health officials said they had decided not to reveal the names of affected hospitals to prevent a panic surrounding them, a policy even some lawmakers from the governing Saenuri Party have criticized.
On Wednesday, the government offered cash payments to poor people who could not work while they were under government quarantine. The subsidies were announced amid concern that impoverished workers might be reluctant to report contacts with MERS patients for fear of losing their jobs.
The Education Ministry said it was advising schools to consider temporarily closing if they feared a mass infection among students. But during a news briefing on Wednesday, Kwon Jun-wook, a senior Health Ministry official, called the closing of schools “medically wrong.” Kim Woo-joo, head of the Korean Society of Infectious Diseases, also opposed the closing of schools, calling it too drastic a precaution.The Education Ministry said it was advising schools to consider temporarily closing if they feared a mass infection among students. But during a news briefing on Wednesday, Kwon Jun-wook, a senior Health Ministry official, called the closing of schools “medically wrong.” Kim Woo-joo, head of the Korean Society of Infectious Diseases, also opposed the closing of schools, calling it too drastic a precaution.
MERS is caused by a coronavirus from the same family as the one that caused the deadly outbreak in China in 2003 of severe acute respiratory syndrome, or SARS. There is no vaccine. Health officials have said that evidence is mounting that dromedary camels could transmit the virus to humans through close contact.