A MERS case was confirmed at one of the largest hospitals in the country on Tuesday, while the total number of cases rose to 95 and death toll to seven.
The Health Ministry confirmed that a 27-year-old man was infected by the sixth patient while staying at the emergency room of the Asan Medical Center in Seoul on May 26. The sixth patient, who was diagnosed on May 28, died on June 1.
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| (Yonhap) |
With more than 2,700 licensed beds and a total area of 85,000 square meters, Asan Medical Center is one of the biggest hospitals in Korea. The hospital officials had previously told media that the sixth patient only stayed about 10 minutes at the emergency room on May 26.
The seventh MERS death was also confirmed on Tuesday morning. The deceased was diagnosed with the virus on June 6. The 68-year-old had a chronic heart disease and was admitted to the Samsung Medical Center’s emergency room for dyspnea on May 27, where she was exposed to the 14th patient. Her condition deteriorated since the diagnosis and she died on Monday.
In addition, two other hospitals were confirmed as MERS-affected facilities. Two newly confirmed patients, aged 64 and 71, respectively, were infected at the Hallym University Medical Center in Seoul by the 15th confirmed patient. Meanwhile, a 47-year-old man was infected by the deceased sixth patient — his father-in-law — while caring for him at Yeouido St. Mary’s Hospital on May 28.
As of Tuesday morning, three people have fully recovered and were discharged. The Health Ministry announced that all suspected and confirmed MERS patients’ medical costs will be compensated by the government.
As of Tuesday morning, more than 2,800 have been quarantined for possible infection, while 225 are being tested for MERS.
By Claire Lee (dyc@heraldcorp.com)
