WHO Director General Expresses Guarded Optimism Over South Korean MERS Outbreak, As Total Cases Rise To 165

Agence France-Presse: WHO chief voices optimism over S. Korea MERS outbreak
“WHO chief Margaret Chan expressed guarded optimism Thursday over South Korea’s ability to contain a MERS outbreak, saying it was now ‘on a very good footing’ after an initially slow response to the virus which has killed 23 people…” (Chan-Kyong, 6/18).

New York Times: South Korean Hospital Scrutinized in MERS Outbreak
“…The mistakes by the Samsung Medical Center [in caring for South Korea’s first MERS patient] are now the focus of much that has gone wrong to escalate the MERS crisis in South Korea, the worst outbreak beyond Saudi Arabia, where the disease first appeared in 2012. As of Thursday, nearly half of all 165 confirmed MERS cases in South Korea have been traced to Samsung, historically regarded as the nation’s best hospital…” (Sang-Hun, 6/17).

VOA News: South Korea Reports 3 More MERS Deaths
“The death toll from South Korea’s MERS outbreak has risen to 23, according to officials, a day after the United Nations’ health agency said incompetence had led to the spread of the virus. South Korea’s health ministry also said Thursday they have confirmed three more cases of the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome, bringing the total number of known infections to 165…” (6/18).

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