Fears of MERS outbreak in S. Korea, Hong Kong

South Korea’s health minister apologised on Sunday for failing to halt an outbreak of the MERS virus, vowing “utmost efforts” to curb the disease’s spread as the number infected rose to 15. Minister Moo Hyung Pyo added this week would be a “critical period” to contain the spread of MERS, or Middle East Respiratory Syndrome, which can cause symptoms ranging from flu-like aches and pains to pneumonia and kidney failure. Health officials have come under fire for allowing an infected man to travel to China despite warnings from doctors.

We apologise for causing concern and anxiety among people due to… our initial judgement on the contagiousness of MERS.

South Korean Health Minister Moon Hyung-Pyo

In the meantime, Hong Kong authorities quarantined 18 fellow passengers of a South Korean man who arrived in the city infected with Middle East Respiratory Syndrome, or MERS.The Chinese city’s health authorities said Saturday the 18 are quarantined in the Lady MacLehose Holiday Village resort in a remote part of Hong Kong for two weeks. They were seated within two rows of the South Korean man, but have not showed any symptoms so far. Another 17 people are under medical surveillance. Authorities say the 44-year-old South Korean man flew from Seoul to Hong Kong on Tuesday and then traveled by bus to the Chinese mainland. The potentially fatal virus is similar to Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome, or SARS, which broke out in China in 2002. Fifteen cases of MERS have been detected in South Korea.

MERS Asia-Pacific