A shocking news to Anyang Citizen!   Anyang City, located around 15km away from Seoul, announced its first MERS patient on June 19. According to Anyang City, a 63-year old man who resides in Hogye-dong, Yangsan-si, was diagnosed with Mers virus yesterday and he is the latest MERS-diagnosed person, th 166th case in Korea.   The authority said that he was likely infected to MERS CoV while he was looking after his wife in the Samsung Medical Center. Currently, he is being isolated and treated in the Suwon National Medical Center. In orderto prevent MERS spread in Anyang-si, The 24-hour Emergency System has set up under Mayor Lee, Pil-Un's lead(이필운 안양시장).   As of today, Mers-confirmed cases are 166, the dead are 24, and 5,930 number of people are under quarantine. Original article: http://www.hankyung.com/news/app/newsview.php?aid=2015061904857 (Latest update: 2015-06-19-17:09) Notice: I translated this original article in Korean to English. However, I am not a professional reporter or translator so my English article may not be accurate as much as the original Korean article is. Hope you understand this.

Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Monitoring Board Updated on 2015 July 21 (AM 09:00)  5 Under Quarantine 186 Confirmed Case 36 Dead 16,688 Finished Quarantine  136 Discharged Datamap for MERS Spread  Update: 2015 July 21 It decribes MERS-diagnosed patients' moving routes and MERS outbreaked facilities. MERS Reporting Websites in South Korea These are some useful websites that show statistics on MERS, patient profiles, and interactive datamaps. They are all in Korean though. If you have any question while reading any of them, comment on this posting. I will answer to your comment as far as I know. Thanks! Health and Medical Industry Labor Union(보건의료노조): http://bogun.nodong.org/xe/index.php?mid=khmwu_5_7&document_srl=334372 Seoul City MERS Visualdive (서울시 메르스 상황판): http://issue.visualdive.co.kr/mers/ KBS MERS infection information (kbs 메르스 감염 현황): http://dj.kbs.co.kr/resources/2015-06-08/ MERS Center (메르스 센터): http://mers.center/ Merscorona.com (메르스 코로나 닷컴): http://merscorona.com/ Korean Government MERS Portal Site (정부 메르스 포털): http://www.mers.go.kr/ *Source for map & MERS monitoring board: The Central MERS-CoV Control Office of the Ministry of Health and Welfare

  MOHW announced that it will increase the number of languages on its MERS hotline (109) to 19 in order to provide quick and accurate MERS-related information to non-Korean speakers residing in Korea or elsewhere.   The MERS hotline 109 already began an English language service on June 12. Starting from June 15, 17:00 P.M., it will provide interpreting services in 19 languages* through MOJ’s Immigration Contact Center 1345. (Vietnamese, Thai, Mongolian, Indonesian, French, Bengali, Urdu, Russian, Nepali, Khmer, Burmese, German, Spanish, Tagalog, Arabic, Tamil, English, Mandarin and Japanese) *Direct Mandarin and Japanese services will be added to the MERS hotline on June 18, 9:00 A.M. as it is expected that there will be a relatively high demand for both languages. How to use the MERS(109) hotline multi-language services For English, Chinese, Japanese   Call 109 and wait until you hear this message: “For English, 中國語, 日本語 press 1, for other languages please disconnect and call 1345.” If you press 1, you will be instructed as follows: “for english press 1, for 中國語 press 2, for 日本語 press 3.” Follow this instruction, and you will be connected to an agent who speaks the language of your choice. For Other languages  Call 109 and wait until you hear this message: “For English, 中國語, 日本語 press 1, for other languages please disconnect and call 1345.” Follow this instruction, and you will be provided with a three-way interpreting service in the language of your choice. An agent at the Immigration Contact Center 1345 will interpret between the caller and a MERS hotline agent. * (Notice) This information was translated in collaboration with the Korean Culture and Information Service (KCIS)   Original Source at ''Press Release' section of http://english.mw.go.kr/front_eng/index.jsp

  MERS virus outbreak in Daegu was reported on June 16. According to the Daegu city authority, a 52 year-old man had fever and his specimen was examined two times by Daegu Research Institute of Public Health & Environment and Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Both results out of these facilities said positive to MERS-CoV.   This guy took a rest at home due to the chills but visited a public bathhouse around his town on 13 June. It was 15 June when he visited the public health center. Currently, he is now under isolation with negative pressured room in the Daegu Medical Center.   Despite of his MERS infection, his wife (47) and son (16) have received negative response to the first MERS diagnostic exam and they are now self-quarantined. However, his sister was diagnosed with MERS infection on 10 June, who has visited their mother in the 2nd ER of the Seoul Samsung Center (Irwon-dong, Gangnam).   To make matters worse, it turned out that he was working at his company and had dinner with his colleagues until he was diagnosed with MERS virus. Therefore, 50 group of people who have ever contacted with him are now under quarantine. Also, Daegu city ordered the community center where was worked for closed and reinforced investigating his moving route and monitoring the contacted citizen.   In total, 3 MERS-infected people in Daegu are isolated and treated for MERS infection. Notice: I translated this original article in Korean to English. However, I am not a professional reporter or translator so my English article may not be accurate as much as the original Korean article is. Hope you understand this. Original article from Yonhap News (대구도 뚫렸다, 50대 공무원 메르스 첫 확진 Latest Update 2015-June-16 06:42)  

  With the number of MERS-infected patients increasing in South Korea, some of the general opinion on Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) are becoming doubtable. It’s been confirmed that the type of MERS virus in Korea is same with the one in Middle East Region. However, MERS virus seems to spread beyond Korean authority’s expectation due to Korean own hospital culture and environmental features.   This posting is all about some new findings or doubts on MERS virus so far in South Korea. It will be helpful to read '10 things you must know about MERS Infographic' published by the Ministry of Health & Welfare on 4 June.  Transmission Within 2m -> Far further than 2m Over 1hour -> For about 10 minutes   It has been widely known that MERS virus spread through droplet infection but it doesn’t seem to apply to Korean MERS outbreak. It spread to not only the people who shared the same room with the initial patient but the one in other rooms at the same level and even on the other floors in Pyeongtaek St. Mary’s Hospital where caused the first MERS epidemic trend in Korea. It was assumed that it kept spreading by medical staff’s gown or conditioning equipment in the hospital. Contagiosity 0.6~0.8 person by one patient -> multiplied infected people by one person Weakens after the first generation -> Similar to 1, 2, and 3 generation   There is a big difference at the contagiosity between Korea and the Middle East. In the Middle East, one person transmitted MERS virus to 0.6~0.8 person statistically. However, the first MERS diagnosed man (68, case 1) in South Korea had 30 people infected to MERS virus. Also, case 14 (35), also known as a super spreader, had over 70 number of citizen diagnosed with MERS virus. Moreover, case 15 (35), case 16 (40) made multiple number of patients infected by MERS virus. This is not yet finished. The case 14 was one of the 2nd generation of MERS virus and he actually transmitted it to far more number of people than the Case 1 did. Age Mostly the aged -> increasing the younger 56 people under 50 years old, which is 37.3% 3 out of 5 newly diagnosed patients on June 14 are in their 30~40   According to the statistics released by the Ministry of Health and Welfare on June 15, 37.3% out of 150 number of patients are under 50 years old. Still many believe that MERS virus affects mostly to the aged over 65. Against expectations, 3 out of 5 patients were diagnosed with MERS virus on 14 June, and they were all between 30 and 40 years old. One argument insisted that MERS is mostly contagious among the elderly but it is now losing its evidence. Incubation period 2 weeks -> Probably 6 weeks according to a study from Saudi Arabia   There is a question on MERS incubation period that is generally known to be two weeks. Yet, no MERS virus incubated over 2 weeks in Korea. However, some people argue that it can incubate for 6 weeks as a woman in Saudi Arabia had carried the MERS virus for 6 weeks since her first diagnosis. Notice: I translated this original article in Korean to English. However, I am not a professional reporter or translator so my English article may not be accurate as much as the original Korean article is. Hope you understand this.  Source: http://www.munhwa.com/news/view.html?no=2015061501070221080001 (Latest Update: 2015-June-15 11:51)

An 80-year-old Dongdaemun-gu resident was diagnosed with MERS on 13th June around midnight and this made Dongdaemun-gu officers take prompt actions on it this morning. It was 28th May when the aged visited the emergency room of Samsung Medical Center (Irwon-dong, Gangnam-gu) and his visit to SMC ER was reported to the authorities on 9th June. From that day until the 12th, he was under quarantine.  As soon as his initial report on 9th, a Dongdaemun-gu officer promptly started supervising him and the Dongdaemun-gu Public Health Center asked his specimen thoroughly examined in labs. Until he was diagnosed with MERS, he was transferred and admitted to a designated hospital in Seoul to have him properly treated. Also, both his daughter and caregiver, major contacts, were quarantined. Dongdamun-gu staff will open an urgent press conference at 5th floor of Dongdamun-gu Hall at 11:00, 15 June and inform the residents in Dongdaemun-gu of how they have dealt with the initial Dongdaemun-gu resident and their measurement to prevent further infection. There are 40 number of Dongdaemun-gu residents who are now required to be supervised closely as they were at the same place with the first Dongdaemun-gu MERS diagnosed patient. Notice: I translated this original article in Korean to English. However, I am not a professional reporter or translator so my English article may not be accurate as much as the original Korean article is. Hope you understand this.  Original article at http://view.asiae.co.kr/news/view.htm?idxno=2015061411443393749 (Latest update 11:52 14 June 2015)

Summary about Mr. Lee, a second MERS-diagnosed patient in Busan Male, Born in 1984 Deployed at Dajeon Daechung Hospital for his work til May 30 (E-on Medical Solution, 이온엠솔루션) Came back to Busan on May 30 by his car and stayed at his place in Busan till 31 May June 1 2015 (One day before Mr. Lee's first fever began) 08:30 Departed his house to Mangmi station 08:50 Arrived Sajik Station 08:55 Arrived at his work, E-on Medical Solution 12:30 Had lunch at Gupochonjip noodle restaurant (구포촌집 국수집) in front of his company 18:30 Back to his house and ate out with his colleague (Mr. Nam) for dinner 20:00 Arrived at Youngnam Sikyuk Restaurant (영남 식육식당) in Left East-gu, Haeundae-gu (해운대 좌동) 20:00-21:00 Had dinner with Mr. Nam 21:00-23:00 Moved to Hwanggeum Shrimp Restaurant (황금새우식당) near the first restaurant 23:20-23:30 Stopped by a CU convenient store located near NH Bank 23:40 Mr. Lee went back to his home by taxi, Mr. Nam walked back to his place June 2 2015 (Mr. Lee found his initial fever) 05:30 Went to his work by his wheel. 09:00 Arrived at his work 12:30 Had lunch at Gupochonjip noodle restaurant (구포촌집 국수집) near his company 18:30 Back to his home 19:00 Took a taxi and Arrived at Busan Centum Hospital for seeing a doctor 21:00 Back to his home by taxi June 3 2015 (He went to his work like any normal day) 08:30 Took his wheel to his work 09:00 Arrived at his company 12:30 Had lunch at Daeeh Daegutang restaurant (대어대구탕) near his company 14:00 Arrived at his home June 4 2015 (Mr. Lee visited BSH Hanseo Hospital by taxi but not admitted to the BSH) 10:00 Arrive BSH Hanseo Hospital by taxi 13:00 Came back to his home by taxi and took a rest June 5 2015 (He only stayed at his home) June 6 2015 (Mr. Lee visited Good Gang-An Hospital ER and went back to his house) 19:00 Took a taxi at his home 19:54-21:10 Arrive Good Gang-An Hospital ER 22:30: Back to his house by taxi June 8 2015 (Mr. Lee admitted to the ward ward in Good Gang-An Hospital) 09:00 Took a taxi to Good Gang-An Hospital 09:30 Admitted to the ward in 12th floor June 9-11 (He hospitalized in Good Gang-An Hospital) Got hospitalized and stayed in 3 bed room in Good Gang-An Hospital, found coughing on 11 June June 12 (Mr. Lee has been isolated under a negative pressure room) Isolated under a negative pressured room. Diagnosed with MERS at 17:40   A group of citizens who have directly or indirectly exposed to MERS by Mr. Lee are being reported and then got ordered to home-quarantined. Furthermore, professors are performing an epidemiologic investigation. Related posing http://www.kmhglobal.com/busan-second-mers-diagnosed-patient-had-met-711-citizens Notice: I translated this original article in Korean to English. However, I am not a professional reporter or translator so my English article may not be accurate as much as this Korean article is. Hope you understand this.  Source: http://www.ohmynews.com/NWS_Web/View/at_pg.aspx?CNTN_CD=A0002118053&CMPT_CD=SEARCH (Latest Update 15.06.12 21:16)

▶National Safe Hospitals(Gukmin Ansim Hospital): care for ordinary patients and patients with respiratory diseases while keeping them safe from MERS infections We are often sick by common cold or allergy. Sometimes we get homesick. :D But this MERS outbreak is not a common cold or homesick. It is a new type of virus that was found firstly in Middle East Region and somehow Korean people are getting scared of any chance that they may get exposed to MERS virus. Seoul City is now known to be the best tour site where foreign tourists can visit. (Reasons explained on http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/wp/2015/06/10/five-great-things-to-do-in-seoul-while-people-are-staying-home-for-fear-of-mers/)  I believe that there must be some expats or tourists who are sick currently but have no idea where to visit and see a doctor. Thankfully, the National Safe Hospital List (Kookmin Ansim Hospital List) was released on 12 June by the Ministry of Health & Welfare. Please check out the attached file.   The original source is from the Ministry of Health & Wealfare English Press Release   ** If you have any questions about above listed hospitals and clinics or for any other medical-related inquiries, please contact us at hello@kmhglobal.com or call us at 02-519-8021 (+82-2-519-8021). We'll try to help you with the best care there is. Thank you very much. 

Over the night, Busan city and the Korea Center for Disease Control and Prevention investigated the CCTVs and figured out the number of people whom the second MERS diagnosed patient(Me. Lee) had met. It turned out 711 citizens are now directly or indirectly contaminated by the second MERS patient. Busan city has made the 412 'suspected' people home-quarantined by this morning for precaution. The quarantined are the patients and medical staff who were employed at the hospitals where Mr. Lee visited and asked to exam his symptoms. His colleagues, 24 number of people were also ordered to stay quarantined. These are the hospital list where Mr. Lee had visited so far. 412 in total stayed home-qurantined 89 좋은강안병원(Good Gang-An Hospital) 291 BSH 한서병원(BSH Hanseo Hospital) 8 부산센텀병원(Busan Centum Hospital) 24 His colleagues  1 out of 24 colleagues of Mr. Lee was asked to stay quarantined in Ulsan city as he is from Ulsan. For some of the readers who would like to check where and when Mr. Lee's has been moving around, Please follow my latest posing, 'Second MERS Diagnosed Patient, Mr. Lee’s Moving Route Revealed in Busan' at http://www.kmhglobal.com/second-mers-diagnosed-patient-mr-lee-moving-route-revealed-busan Still, the authorities are searching for the possibly contaminated citizens and will order them home-qurantined this afternoon.  Notice: I translated this original article in Korean to English. However, I am not a professional reporter or translator so my English article may not be accurate as mush as this Korean article is. Hope you understand this.  Source: http://www.ohmynews.com/NWS_Web/View/at_pg.aspx?CNTN_CD=A0002118105 (Latest Update 15.06.13 08:52)

July 21th, 36 Dead in total, Death rate 19.4% (Keep updated) Case 6 (71 years old, Male, COPD, Post-nephrectomy, June 2) Case 25 (57 years old, Female, Asthma, Hypertension, Cushing's syndrome, June 2) Case 36 (82 years old, Male, Asthma, Hypertension, June 3) Case 3 (76 years old, Male, Cholangioma, Asthma, COPD etc, June 4) Case 64 (75 years old, Male, End stage of gastric cancer, June 5) Case 84 (80 years old, Male, Pneumonia, June 8) Case 47 (68 years old, Female, Valvular disease, June 9) Case 90 (62 years old, Male, Cirrhosis, Liver cancer, June 10) Case 76 (75 years old, Female, Multiple myeloma, June 10) Case 83 (65 years old, Male, Lung cancer, June 11) Case 51 (72 years old, Female, Pneumonia, Acute renal failure, June 12) Case 23 (73 years old, Male, Asthma, COPD, June 12 ) Case 24 (78 years old, Male, Asthma, Hypertension, June 12) Case 118 (67 years old, Female, Hyperthyroidism, Hypertension, June 13) Case 81 (61 years old, Male, no underlying disease but cause of death was pneumonia, June 14, *The first MERS diagnosed patient in Busan) Case 28 (58 years old, Male, Diabetes, June 14) Case 38 (49 years old, Male, June 16, Admitted to Daejeon Daecheong Hospital and shared a room with Case 16) Case 98 (58 yeasr old, Male, June 16, Admitted to Samsung Medical Center ER) Case 123 (65 years old, Male, June 16, Admitted to Samsung Medical Centar ER) Case 42 (54 years old, Female, Hypertension, Bronchiectasis, June 17) Case 31 (69 years old, Male, Hypertension, Tuberculosis, June 17) Case 77 (64 years old, Male, Hypertension, Asthma, Nec,rotiz,ing panc,reatitis, June 18) Case 82 (83 years old, Female, Hypertension, Pneumonia, June 18) Case 120 (75 years old, Male, no underlying diseases but the authority insisted that his age matters., June 19) Case 112 (63 years old, Male, Myocardial ischemia, Diabetes, June 21) Case 101 (84 years old, Male, Cancer, June 21) Case 128 (87 years old, Male, Atrial fibrillation, heart failure, cancer, stroke, June 22) Case 45 (65 years old, Male, no underlying diseases, June 24) Case 173 (70 years old, Female, no underlying disease, June 24) Case 87 (79 years old, Female, Diabetes, Cerebral infarction, June 26 ) Case 140 (80 years old, Female, Bladder cancer, June 26, She was the sister of case 154, the first Mers patient in Daegu) Case 104 (55 years old, Male, no underlying disease, June 27, Admitted to Samsung Medical Center ER and contaminated by Case 14) Case 50 (81 years old, Femle, Hypertension, Cerebral infarction, Valvular heart disease, June 29) Case 177 (50 years old, Female, Tuberculosis, July 7, she was admitted to the Samsung Medical Center ER between My 27~29.) Case 133 (70 years old, Male, no underlying disese, July 8, He was an ambulance driver who transferred Patient Case 76 (dead June 10) ) Case 157 (60 years old, Male, Lung cancer, July 10, He'd been admitted to SMC Emergency Room.) *RIP ▶◀ *Original source: http://bogun.nodong.org/xe/index.php?mid=khmwu_5_7&document_srl=334372 (Sorry but it is writen in Korean :( )