South Korea Struggles To Contain Deadly MERS Virus' Spread

A deadly virus with no known cure —
Middle East Respiratory Syndrome, or

MERS — has infected 13 people in South
Korea since mid-May. The fast spread of
the disease, from the first case confirmed
on May 20 to more than a dozen by
Saturday, is prompting criticism of health
officials for not moving faster to
quarantine suspected patients.

"We will set up a tighter quarantine
system to dispel public concern," Health
Minister Moon Hyung-pyo told The Korea
Times. "Since the first case was found, we
tried to keep it under control. But the
moves weren't enough."

According to health officials, the first
confirmed case in South Korea was found
in a 68-year-old man who traveled to
Bahrain in April and May. He returned to
South Korea via Qatar. Since then, the
virus has spread to victims with whom he
came into close contact, including a nurse
and other hospital patients.