November 03, 2009 19:19 PM

South Korea Raises Flu Alert To Highest Level

SEOUL, Nov 3 (Bernama) -- South Korea on Tuesday raised its flu alert status to the highest "red" level and moved to set up a central disaster relief headquarters to better combat the rapid spread of Influenza A (H1N1).

The Ministry for Health, Welfare and Family Affairs said the number of confirmed H1N1 flu cases has doubled in recent weeks with the onset of cold weather, Yonhap news agency reported.

The country had maintained its "orange" alert status since July 21 but decided to raise it as an average of 8,857 people caught the new flu per day last week, up from 4,420 tallied for the week before.

A total of 42 people have died in South Korea from the flu since mid-August.

Government efforts will be focused on coping with serious flu cases and vaccinating about 35 percent of the population as soon as possible to safeguard public health, the ministry said.

It also called for a central disaster relief headquarters to be set up under the Ministry of Public Administration and Security to enhance the government's response to the epidemic.

"The government will move to mobilize all available medical personnel to treat patients and enhance the country's capability to provide anti-viral drugs," a official said.

Seoul will strengthen its monitoring of hospitals and clinics to gauge the extent of Influenza A's spread, he added, reported Yonhap.

Health authorities, in addition, said they will advance vaccinations of all school children by one or two weeks, and stockpile 11 million dosages of anti-viral drugs.

-- BERNAMA

We provide (subscription-based) 
news coverage in our Newswire service.