S. Korea confirms 28 more flu cases

SEOUL, July 21 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's health authorities said Tuesday that
they have confirmed an additional 28 cases of influenza A, bringing the total
number of infections here to 922.
The new patients, including 11 elementary school students in the southern port
city of Busan, tested positive for the H1N1 virus after showing flu-like
symptoms, the Ministry for Health, Welfare and Family Affairs said in an e-mailed
statement.
As of Tuesday morning, 151 people remain in isolation for treatment with the
other confirmed and suspected cases having been released from hospitals after
showing no further symptoms of the flu. More than half of all confirmed cases
have involved inbound travelers.
South Korea has been relatively insulated from the global pandemic, which has
claimed hundreds of lives since the disease was first identified in April, but
concerns are growing as the number of daily infections increases at a fast pace.
No deaths have been reported here.
Fears are also mounting over the increasing number of cases here involving
"community" transmission, in which people are infected with the virus without
having traveled to affected countries or coming in contact with other patients.
The government earlier said it has set aside 174.8 billion won (US$139.3 million)
to secure enough vaccine to inoculate around 27 percent of the nation's
population against the flu virus. The vaccines will be available beginning in
November, ahead of the winter flu season, it added.
kokobj@yna.co.kr
(END)