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S Korean gov't raises alert level against A(H1N1) flu

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-11-03 22:40

SEOUL: South Korea on Tuesday raised its alert level against the A(H1N1) influenza from the second-highest to the top level as the pace of the virus spread is growing faster.

The Ministry for Health, Welfare and Family Affairs announced that it has decided to revise up the alert from the second-highest "orange" to the highest "red" level, calling on its people to pay closer attention.

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"There is a possibility that the number of H1N1 cases in the country could shoot up around late November and that requires readiness," Park Ha-jeong, a deputy minister for public health, told reporters.

In order to fight against the fast spread of the H1N1 virus, the government said it will impose travel restrictions, cancel large-scale events and speed up the testing process, Park said.

He also said the authorities will launch the country's first central anti-disaster headquarters on Wednesday under the Ministry of Public Administration and Security to deal with the disease.

The taskforce will deal with overall preparations such as providing more hospital beds, intensive care units and medical personnel, Park said.

According to the deputy minister, the authorities are going on with efforts to cope with serious flu cases, ready to speed up with vaccination on about 35 percent of the population and to enhance the country's capability to provide anti-viral drugs.

The policymaker also said once ongoing vaccinations for doctors is concluded, both civilian and military medical personnel will be employed in the vaccination program at schools, starting around Nov. 16.

"With the help from all medical faculties, school vaccinations should be completed in about four weeks, compared to six weeks which had been the original target," he said.

Park, however, has yet to consider giving orders to close all schools at the moment, it added.

The nation's highest level of the four-tier alert system, red, is announced if a virus is spreading rapidly among the general population and requires immediate action by authorities.

South Korea has been maintaining the orange alert since July 21, as the A/H1N1 virus was starting to be transmitted without person-to-person contacts, although the pace was not fast.

The move comes as there were an average 8,857 people confirmed as having infected the Influenza A every day last week from 4,420 tallied the week before.

South Korea has reported that a total of 42 people have died from the flu as of Tuesday afternoon.