Premier Mao Chi-kuo has instructed the health ministry to step up efforts to prevent MERS from entering Taiwan.
Several cases of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) have been confirmed in South Korea. Patient zero is a 68-year-old male who visited Bahrain to discuss an agricultural project between April 18 and May 3. He returned to South Korea on May 4 and developed MERS-CoV symptoms seven days later.
The virus has now begun to spread. A seventh case was confirmed on Thursday. One person suspected of being infected has entered China earlier this week without notifying the health authorities.
MERS-CoV was first identified in 2012 in Saudi Arabia. As of May 23, the World Health Organization had been notified of 1,139 confirmed cases of infection, including at least 431 deaths.
Thus far, MERS-CoV has been found in 24 countries, with the majority of the cases reported in the Middle East The Centers for Disease Control is warning those planning to travel to affected areas to pay greater attention to personal hygiene and especially hand cleanliness.