Efforts are escalating to prevent the spread of the Middle East respiratory syndrome, or MERS, in Korea.

The Korea-World Health Organization (WHO) joint mission released a message to the public on the WHO homepage on June 9. In the message, they said that their interactions have been excellent. They added that, “Current efforts to control the outbreak and prevent a further spread are being intensified.”

The joint mission continued to say that, “The evidence presented thus far suggests that the pattern of the outbreak in the Republic of Korea may be similar to MERS outbreaks that have taken place in health care facilities in the Middle East. However, the situation is rapidly evolving and investigations are ongoing.”

Along with the message, the joint mission also attached recommendations for the Korean government. They emphasized the importance of taking measures to prevent a MERS contagion and to control all medical organizations and facilities.

In the case of patients that show signs of a fever or of any respiratory symptoms, they urged the government to, “Ask about contact with a MERS patient, visits to a health care facility where a MERS patient has been treated and their history of travel to the Middle East in the 14 days before symptom onset.”

In its recommendations, the joint mission said that, “Any patient with a positive response should be promptly reported to public health authorities and managed as a suspected case while the diagnosis is being confirmed.”

They recommended that, “Close contacts of MERS cases should not travel during the period when they are being monitored for the development of symptoms."

The joint mission also suggested that schools should consider re-opening, “as schools have not been monitored for the development of symptoms.” The joint mission will unveil the final results of their assessment on June 13.

Meanwhile, on June 12 the Ministry of Health and Welfare will hold a meeting between MERS experts from Korea and Saudi Arabia at the National Biobank of Korea, part of the Korea Center for Disease Control and Prevention, in Osong, Chungcheongbuk-do (North Chungcheong Province).

A six-person delegation from Saudi Arabia visited Korea to share their experience with handling MERS.

The Saudi Arabian delegation is led by Director General for the Saudi Center for Disease Control and Prevention Ali Barrak. The meeting will consist of presentations by Saudi Arabian experts and a question and answer session which will involve Korean specialists.

By Yoon Sojung
Korea.net Staff Writer
arete@korea.kr