South Korea's health chief apologises for spread of Mers after Korean tests positive

[Otherside]

South Korea's health chief apologises for spread of Mers after Korean tests positive in China

PUBLISHED : Sunday, 31 May, 2015, 9:59pm
UPDATED : Monday, 01 June, 2015, 1:02am

Ernest Kao and Agence France-Presse

South Korean Health and Welfare Minister Moon Hyung-pyo (foreground) speaks to the press. Photo: AP

South Korea's health chief has apologised for failing to halt an outbreak of the fatal Middle East respiratory syndrome (Mers), pledging his "utmost efforts" to curb its spread as the number infected in the country rose to 15.

The apology came as Xinhua reported that the condition of a South Korean man, 44, confirmed as China's first Mers patient after travelling through Hong Kong, had worsened.

In Hong Kong, the Centre for Health Protection tracked down six more people who were on the same plane or bus as the South Korean and had contact with him that was not deemed to be close. The five plane passengers and the driver of a bus to Huizhou , Guangdong, bring the total number of such people found to 23. None had symptoms and were under medical surveillance.

The South Korean man is in isolation in Huizhou.

Mers is in the same viral family as severe acute respiratory syndrome, which killed 299 people in Hong Kong in 2003.
DON'T MISS: Punish travellers who lie about their health, Sars expert urges

The apology by South Korean Minister for Health and Welfare Moon Hyung-pyo came after questions were raised as to why the infected man was allowed to board the flight from Seoul to Hong Kong.

"We apologise for causing concern and anxiety among people due to … our initial judgment on the contagiousness of Mers," Moon said. "We are making our utmost efforts to prevent the further spread of the disease."

Moon said this week would be a "critical period" in containing the spread of the killer virus.

The infected South Korean came into contact with scores of people on Tuesday as he took Asiana Airlines Flight OZ723 to Hong Kong - where he arrived with a fever and was stopped by airport health officials but allowed to leave. He then took two buses to Huizhou.

Huizhou health officials said the man was taking anti-retroviral therapy and had an occasional high fever. The man's translator has been quarantined.

None of the 18 people placed in quarantine at Lady MacLehose Holiday Village in Sai Kung on Friday after being in close proximity to the South Korean had shown symptoms of respiratory infection, Hong Kong health minister Dr Ko Wing-man said. They would remain isolated for nine or 10 more days.

Additional reporting by Elizabeth Cheung