2 S. Korean hospitals shut over MERS fears; 11th person dies
Source: AP
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) Authorities in South Korea temporarily closed two hospitals amid persistent fears over the MERS virus outbreak, which killed an 11th person Friday, though health officials said they are seeing fewer new infections.
More than 120 people in South Korea have been diagnosed with Middle East respiratory syndrome since the country reported its first case last month. The outbreak, the largest outside Saudi Arabia, has been occurring only in hospitals, among patients, family members who visited them and medical staff treating them. Still, it has caused widespread fears and rumors, and about 2,790 schools and kindergartens remained closed Friday.
South Korean officials believe the disease has peaked and it would begin easing in coming days. Their assessment is based on a view that the virus' maximum two-week incubation period for those infected at a Seoul hospital considered as the main source of the outbreak ended Friday.
However, there are several other hospitals where additional cases were later reported or MERS patients were treated. Their incubation periods have not ended, raising worries that they may become new sources of infections.
Read more: http://bigstory.ap.org/article/efcf5bc4420b4053932db762ed835b28/s-korea-reports-11th-death-mers-outbreak
davidpdx
(22,000 posts)They have closed down many of the schools, daycare, and some universities (though the university I work at is still open). Many the summer camps have been canceled. A lot of people wearing masks. Our department sent out an email about the university police on MERS. Last week the university shut down the area students go to practice English free talking as a precaution.
Most of the panic is due to the Korean Government's poor response when this all started. If they had responded quickly this would have been over by now. I personally have not been wearing a mask, just washing my hands about the same amount as I normally do.