One Confirmed Case of 'Wuhan Pneumonia' in South Korea... Chinese Woman (Update)

A medical team is transporting a pneumonia patient to Jinyintan Hospital in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China, where pneumonia caused by the novel coronavirus is occurring, on the 18th.

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Dae-yeol] The Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) announced on the 20th that it has confirmed a case of the novel coronavirus, commonly referred to as 'Wuhan pneumonia.'

According to the KCDC, the patient is a 35-year-old Chinese woman who resided in Wuhan, China, and entered the country the previous day. She developed symptoms including fever, chills, and muscle pain on the 18th, one day before her arrival, and received treatment for a cold at a local hospital that day. During the quarantine process at Incheon Airport for arrivals from Wuhan, she was identified as a symptomatic individual due to her fever and other symptoms and was classified as a suspected case. She was transferred to Incheon Medical Center, a government-designated isolation hospital, where tests were conducted. She was confirmed as a positive case that morning.

During the epidemiological investigation, the patient stated that she had not visited the traditional market or Huanan Seafood Market in Wuhan. She also reported no contact with confirmed patients or wild animals, according to the KCDC. A central epidemiologist is conducting an in-depth investigation, and since the case was identified during quarantine, there was no exposure to the community after entry into the country. Currently, contacts including passengers and crew members who were on the same flight are being investigated, and the relevant health centers have been notified to conduct active monitoring. This involves contacting the contacts by phone over a two-week period, including the last day of contact, the second day, and the seventh day, to check for respiratory symptoms. If suspicious symptoms develop, the individual will be isolated and tested.

Following the confirmation of this case, the KCDC raised the infectious disease crisis alert level from 'interest' to 'caution.' The Central Disease Control Headquarters and local government task forces have been activated, and considering the Lunar New Year holiday, a 24-hour emergency quarantine system will be operated.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.