S. Korea confirms 46 more flu cases

By Lee Youkyung

SEOUL, July 15 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's health authorities reported an additional 46 confirmed cases of influenza A on Wednesday, bringing the nation's tally of flu infections to 607.

The new patients, including 13 elementary school students in the Seoul
metropolitan area, tested positive for the H1N1 virus after showing flu-like
symptoms, the Ministry for Health, Welfare and Family Affairs said.
The students attend the same elementary school where three suspected cases of
community transmission were reported Monday, the ministry said. An investigation
is under way into how they caught the disease, while the school began summer
vacation earlier than normal to prevent a further spread, it added.
Of the country's total flu cases, 410 involved inbound travelers. As of Wednesday
morning, 153 people remained in isolation for treatment with the remainder having
been sent home after showing no further symptoms, according to the ministry.
South Korea has been relatively insulated from the global pandemic, which has
claimed hundreds of lives since the disease was first identified in April. No
deaths have been reported here.
There is growing concern that the disease could begin to spread more quickly, as
the number of reported infections is rising fast. Four quarantine workers were
recently confirmed to be infected with the disease, pointing to a need for
vaccine development.
The government plans to spend 174.8 billion won (US$134.4 million) to secure
enough vaccine to inoculate around 13 million people against the new flu. The
vaccination will be available beginning in November, ahead of the winter flu
season, according to the finance ministry.