Korea is not an exception to Zika virus emergency

The World Health Organization declared Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) as the Zika virus transmitted through mosquitoes spread explosively starting in Brazil last May. If infected, a pregnant woman could have her newborn with microcephaly, while an ordinary adult can suffer from Guillain-Barre syndrome, rapid-onset muscle weakness, as a result of damage to the nervous system. Some experts predict tens of thousands of newborns will come down with microcephaly in the worst case scenario. Some critics demand cancellation of the Rio de Janeiro Olympics in August, while others suggest spraying of highly toxic DDT in residential areas to control mosquitoes.

The Korean quarantine authority said it found three of five suspected Zika virus infections to be negative, and is inspecting the two remaining cases. Since no patient has been reported, the health authority is still keeping its alert level at "attention." However, infections were reported in Indonesia after Thailand, countries where many Korean tourists and business people travel. Hence, there is a chance that Zika-carrying mosquitoes enter Korea through tourists who get infected in those countries or through freight.

Some experts are certain that mosquitoes carrying the Zika virus could be introduced to Korea when temperatures rise. Others even raise the possibility that such mosquitoes will settle down like malaria-carrying mosquitoes in Korea if they are introduced through containers or imported wood logs. Watchers also predict that the size of mosquito population will surge due to El Nino this year. Amid this situation, the government can hardly ease anxiety and fear among the public if it only resorts to measures at the basic level of “Infection 101.” In the early days of MERS outbreaks in Korea, the government said the public does not have to worry at all as long as they follow health guidelines, including hand washing, claiming it was just "Middle East-style flu." However, factors including structure of hospital rooms that are not isolated each other and underdeveloped emergency rooms that are packed with patients and their caregivers in Korea sent the entire nation to a state of panic.

Even amid this situation, quarantine office head of the Incheon International Airport, the hub of Korea’s quarantine, remains vacant for a second month. The government says it could not fill the position because the quota of high-level government officials has not been increased, demonstrating its total negligence. The head of the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention was only appointed on Tuesday after vacancy that lasted for about a month. After waiting for disciplinary actions due to sloppy response to MERS outbreaks, key senior officials from the Health and Welfare Ministry and the KCDC attended Tuesday’s meeting to respond to the Zika outbreaks. Can those people who are facing disciplinary actions focus on fulfilling their duties? Health and Welfare Minister Chung Jin-yeop said that readiness for disease outbreaks should be put in place by assuming the worst case scenario, but the public can hardly trust the authority about its ability to block the Zika virus from entering the country through watertight preparedness.