4 Additional Suspected Wuhan Pneumonia Cases... "Possibility of Community Exposure" (Comprehensive)

3 out of 4 Are Confirmed Case Contacts
Reported Outside Airport Quarantine Station

"Transmission Power Between MERS and SARS Levels"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Cho Hyun-ui] The Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) announced on the 22nd that four additional suspected cases of the novel coronavirus infection from China, known as 'Wuhan pneumonia,' have been identified. This comes just two days after the first confirmed case was discovered in the country on the 20th.

The KCDC stated that four more symptomatic individuals under investigation for Wuhan pneumonia have been identified. These symptomatic individuals under investigation are people who have visited Wuhan City, China, and within 14 days showed respiratory symptoms such as fever and cough.

Among the four suspected cases, three are 'close contacts' who were on the same flight as the confirmed patient and developed symptoms while under surveillance monitoring. The remaining one person personally called the KCDC call center to report suspicious symptoms.

All of them have the potential for community exposure. A KCDC official said, "Since these cases were not reported at the airport quarantine station, it can be assumed that all of them have been exposed to the community."

Domestic health authorities are currently conducting pan-coronavirus tests to determine whether these four individuals are infected with Wuhan pneumonia. The test results are expected to be available as early as today.

The current level of human-to-human transmission of the novel coronavirus requires further confirmation. A KCDC official stated, "Experts currently estimate it to be at a level between MERS and SARS."

As of 9 a.m. today, the total number of symptomatic individuals under investigation is 16. Thirty-four people have been reported as subjects of active monitoring, where health authorities such as public health centers directly check symptoms via telephone, and one person has been released from monitoring.

Domestic health authorities believe that the possibility of additional cases occurring after the Lunar New Year holiday is very high. A KCDC official said, "We consider the Lunar New Year holiday as the first risk period," adding, "Since patients continue to occur in all provinces and cities except for the outskirts within China, the likelihood of additional cases after the Lunar New Year holiday is very high."

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