S. Korea scraps largest army festival over flu scare

(ATTN: DROPS year from title of festival in second para; UPDATES background in last
three paras)
By Sam Kim
SEOUL, Sept. 4 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's Army said Friday it has canceled its
largest public relations exhibition scheduled for next month due to fears it may
become a conduit for the highly contagious type-A influenza.
"Army Festival" drew an estimated 1.3 million spectators last month, according to
the Army. The number of flu patients -- either treated or undergoing treatment --
in the military rose to over 1,300 as of Thursday, making up roughly a third of
the country's total tally.
"A directive has been sent out to call on army units to refrain from holding
large-scale meetings," Col Jang Jae-gun, director of public relations policies at
the Army Headquarters, said.
An official in Seoul said the Army is considering incorporating the Oct. 7-11
exhibition into the Seoul International Aerospace and Defense Exhibition 2009
set for later in October.
The arms exhibition that also features an air show will take place from Oct.
20-25 at an airfield south of Seoul under the supervision of the Air Force.
"Due to the flu fears, the military is keeping as low-profile as possible when it
comes to gatherings," the official said, speaking on customary condition of
anonymity.
South Korea has confirmed over 4,200 cases of the H1N1 virus since the first
outbreak was reported here in May. Four have died from it while one has fallen
into a coma as a result of complications related to the flue.
Health officials warned this week that the influenza could spread more rapidly
this fall with schools having just started a new semester. They said last week
that they will vaccinate around 10 million people against the virus by the end of
this year.
The military plans to vaccinate its entire 655,000-strong force against the virus
starting in November this year.
samkim@yna.co.kr
(END)