Hong Kong has issued a red alert against non-essential travel to South Korea, where the death toll from Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) has risen to seven.
Eight new infections brought the total number of cases to 95 in the largest outbreak outside Saudi Arabia, following the diagnosis of the first patient on May 20.
The latest fatality on Tuesday was a 68-year-old woman who had an existing heart ailment and was infected by a MERS patient at a hospital in Seoul.
“At this stage, to issue a clear message is something the Hong Kong government thinks is necessary,” Hong Kong’s number two official Carrie Lam told reporters.
A red alert is defined as a “significant threat”, according to the Hong Kong government, and means people should “adjust travel plans” and “avoid non-essential travel”.
Hong Kong’s number two official, Carrie Lam, told reporters just ahead of a meeting of the city’s executive council that the alert would be issued.
On Monday, Hong Kong upgraded its response to the outbreak in South Korea to “serious”.
The South Korea government said it hoped to halt the outbreak of the virus by the end of the week.
“Public concerns are rising over the negative impact of the MERS outbreak on our economy and society,” acting prime minister Choi Kyung-Hwan said during a meeting with top health officials.
“So we have decided to … launch an active, all-out response with the goal of ending the MERS crisis within this week.”
Macau takes precaution against MERS
The Chinese territory of Macau required masks for people entering local healthcare facilities as a precaution against MERS, and advised residents to avoid travel to South Korea unless absolutely necessary.
The first South Korean patient returned from Saudi Arabia in early May, officials have said.
South Korea has the second highest number of infections after Saudi Arabia, according to data from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control.
Some 2,892 people who may have had contact with MERS patients have been put under quarantine, some in hospitals but most at home.
Authorities have said they are using mobile phones to track people who violate quarantine.
South Korea’s new cases bring the total of MERS cases globally to 1,244, based on World Health Organization (WHO) data, with at least 446 related deaths.
The WHO has not recommended any curb on travel, but thousands of tourists have cancelled plans to visit South Korea.
Reuters/AFP
MERS facts
- Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus is known as MERS and MERS-CoV
- All recorded cases can be traced back to the Middle East
- Dromedary camels are thought to be the source of infection
- The virus can be spread person-to-person
- Symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath and breathing difficulties
- Severe cases can have a rapid onset of respiratory illness, like pneumonia
- There is no vaccine to prevent the virus
Source: health.gov.au