S Korean gov't raises alert level against A/H1N1 influenza

Park Ha-jung, official of the South Korean Ministry for Health, Welfare and Family Affairs, addresses a press conference, announcing that the South Korean government has raised its alert level against the A/H1N1 influenza from the second-highest to the top level as the pace of the virus spread is growing faster. (Xinhua/Newsis)

South Korea on Tuesday raised its alert level against the A/H1N1 influenza from the second-highest to the top level as the pace of the virus spread is growing faster.

The Ministry for Health, Welfare and Family Affairs announced that it has decided to revise up the alert from the second-highest "orange" to the highest "red" level, calling on its people to pay closer attention.

In order to fight against the fast spread of the H1N1 virus, the government said it will impose travel restrictions, cancel large-scale events and speed up the testing process, the ministry said.

It also said it would launch the country's first central anti-disaster headquarters to deal with the disease.

The ministry, however, has yet to consider giving orders to close all schools at the moment, it added.

The nation's highest level of the four-tier alert system, red, is announced if a virus is spreading rapidly among the general population and requires immediate action by authorities.

South Korea has been maintaining the orange alert since July 21, as the A/H1N1 virus was starting to be transmitted without person-to-person contacts, although the pace was not fast.

The move comes as there were an average 8,857 people confirmed as having infected the Influenza A every day last week from 4,420 tallied the week before.

South Korea has reported that a total of 42 people have died from the flu as of Tuesday afternoon.

Source: Xinhua