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Korean health authorities contemplate end to MERS

Posted July. 17, 2015 07:08,   

한국어

The Korean government is considering announcement of an end to the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome outbreak earlier than the recommendations by the World Health Organization.

“If setting the time to announce an end to MERS based on the recommendations from the WHO, it should be the date that marks the 28th day (the twice the incubation period of the virus) after all confirmed MERS cases have tested negative. The health authorities are planning to announce an official end to the deadly virus outbreak in accordance with the WHO criteria and also considering declaring an end independently from the WHO,” said the central MERS countermeasure headquarters under the Ministry of Health on Thursday.

Currently, two out of 17 MERS patients under treatment have tested positive. If following the WHO criteria, even if the two patients become negative within this week, the government will be able to announce an end to the MERS after middle of August.

“In the current status where there has been no additional infection and no risk of spread, if the government delays announcing an end to the MERS outbreak only for a reason that the patients under treatment have not tested negative, the public anxiety and fatigue will be accumulated. To minimize such side effects, the government is considering declaration of the end to the MERS crisis on a date that the government independently choose (earlier than the WHO recommendations),” said a high-level official of the Korean health authorities.

The possible declaration date that the health authorities are reviewing is August 2, 28 days after the last confirmed MERs case was reported (on July 4). However, the government will not make an official announcement to the international community and consider downgrading the current infectious disease alert status from “caution” to “attention” on that day.

Meanwhile, the health authorities announced its plan to financially support the MERS patients with medical expenses to treat aftereffects after they recover. “If a symptom is confirmed clearly as an aftereffect caused by the MERS, the government will support medical expenses for treatment. The detailed criteria will be determined by discussions among health experts,” said Jeong Eun-gyeong, head of Korea Centers for Disease Control & Prevention.



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