South Korea: Nearly 700 people are being monitored for potential MERS-CoV infection.

(Baonghean.vn) - On Monday, June 1st, South Korean President Park Geun Hye criticized the health authorities for their "shortcomings" in controlling the MERS Coronavirus (MERS-CoV), also known as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome.

Medical assistants transport people to Seoul on June 1, AFP photo.

Currently, the number of patients infected with the MERS-CoV virus in South Korea has reached 18 cases, with nearly 700 people under observation.

During a meeting on MERS-CoV, President Park Geun Hye emphasized that the initial responses to the MERS-CoV outbreak were insufficient. She urged all departments to utilize every means necessary to address the crisis. Earlier, on May 30th, Minister of Health Moon Hyung Pyo apologized for underestimating the threat posed by the disease. The South Korean Ministry of Health stated that authorities have been monitoring and testing 682 individuals believed to have had direct or indirect contact with the MERS-CoV virus.

Since the first case of MERS-CoV infection was detected on May 20th, South Korean authorities have confirmed no deaths from the virus. The first case of MERS-CoV infection in South Korea was reportedly a 68-year-old man.

This person traveled to the Middle East and stayed for two days in Saudi Arabia – a country experiencing an outbreak. The remaining 17 MERS-CoV infections were due to contact with a patient in the hospital or contact on the same flight as a patient.

South Korean authorities are being accused of a slow response in detecting the first case of infection and are also being criticized for allowing a man suspected of being infected to leave for China.

This man had flown to Hong Kong and mainland China before testing positive for the virus on May 29. He is now in quarantine in Huizhou, China.

Chinese media reported that at least 77 people had been in contact with the man, and authorities are currently quarantining 64 of them.

According to reports, more than 20 countries are currently affected by MERS-CoV, with Saudi Arabia being the place where the disease first appeared.

Authorities in this country have recorded 400 deaths since 2012. And the most worrying thing right now is that scientists have yet to find a vaccine or treatment for MERS-CoV.

Chu Thanh – according to Le Monde, June 1st