S. Korea confirms 12 more H1N1 flu cases

SEOUL, July 11 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's health authorities said Saturday they
have confirmed 12 additional cases of influenza A, mostly Indonesians, bringing
the total number of infections here to 379.

The patients -- all of whom recently arrived in South Korea to participate in a
music festival -- tested positive for the H1N1 virus after showing flu-like
symptoms such as a high fever or sore throat, the Ministry for Health, Welfare
and Family Affairs said in an e-mailed statement.
They have been placed under close observation at designated hospitals for
isolation and treatment, it added.
The ministry said an additional 36 Indonesian nationals are also being tested for
the HIN1 virus as they showed similar flu-like symptoms.
South Korea has been relatively insulated from the global pandemic, which has
claimed more than 400 lives worldwide since the disease was first identified in
April. No deaths have been reported here.
But concerns have lingered that the disease could be spreading more quickly after
two local elementary schools were temporarily closed last week when they found
students who had been infected with the virus.
The government earlier said that it plans to spend nearly 200 billion won (US$157
million) to secure enough vaccines to inoculate 13 million people against the new
flu.
sam@yna.co.kr
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