Concern grows over spread of Mers as man defies quarantine, travels to China

onnaedo

May 29, 2015 2:40 PM

Local media said that health workers had contacted 35 people who came into close contact with him.

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There is growing concern in South Korea over the growing spread of the cure-less Mers (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome) virus in the country.

So far, 7 people in the country have reportedly been diagnosed with the disease, even as Chinese officials said they had traced the son of a patient who defied quarantine and travelled to China.

Cases of the virus have been confirmed in more than 20 countries while 2 new cases in South Korea were confirmed on Thursday.

BBC reports that the South Korean health ministry said that all of them had been linked to a man who returned from the Middle East - where Mers is more common.

Mers, which has no cure was first identified in humans in 2012 with the first death recorded in Saudi Arabia.

It is a type of coronavirus from the same family as Sars (severe acute respiratory syndrome) which causes respiratory infections.

Camels are suspected to be the primary source of infection for humans.

onnaedo