WHO Team to Visit S. Korea for Joint MERS Investigation

Seoul (PNA/Xinhua) — An investigation team from the World Health Organization (WHO) will visit South Korea as early as next week to jointly look into the rapid spread of the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) in the country, South Korea’s health ministry said Friday.

The Ministry of Health and Welfare plans to form a joint mission of investigation with the WHO at the earliest possible date as the type of MERS spreading in South Korea is different from the one in Saudi Arabia.

Under the international health regulation, the WHO is capable of conducting an on-site investigation in a country riddled with infectious diseases that require international cooperation.

The joint mission is set to be composed of experts in various areas, such as an epidemiological survey, virus and infection management, to transparently make public the investigation results to the international society.

As of Friday, MERS infections in South Korea surged to 41 after the patient zero was tested positive on May 20.

Four deaths have been reported, sending the fatality rate to 9.8 percent. (PNA/Xinhua) FFC/EBP