Third Change from 'Negative' to 'Positive' in Umseong... Diagnostic Testing Must Be Strengthened

Patient 24 and Patient 13 are colleagues
Additional diagnostic tests needed periodically even if asymptomatic

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Heung-soon] Concerns about the accuracy of diagnostic tests have increased after a Wuhan evacuee (20, male) living in a temporary residence facility within the Police Human Resources Development Institute in Asan, Chungnam, was confirmed as the 24th domestic case of the novel coronavirus infection (Wuhan pneumonia). This patient initially tested negative in the first test but later tested positive. Since patients number 8 and 20 also changed from negative to positive, there are calls to strengthen the diagnostic testing system.

According to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on the 7th, one evacuee living at the Police Human Resources Development Institute was confirmed positive the previous afternoon and was transferred to the National Medical Center. This brings the total number of confirmed cases in the country to 24, including patients 1 and 2 who have already been discharged. The 24th patient returned from Wuhan on a chartered flight on the 31st of last month. This is the second confirmed case among evacuees returning from Wuhan. Earlier, on the 2nd, a Wuhan evacuee living in the temporary residence facility in Asan was confirmed as the 13th case. The new patient is known to be a colleague of the 13th patient. The 24th patient initially tested negative but, while living in the temporary residence facility, complained of a sore throat, prompting medical staff to conduct a virus test, which reversed the result to positive.

This is the third case where an initial negative test was followed by a positive result upon retesting. Previously, the 8th patient (62, female), who had been to Wuhan, underwent the first test on the 28th of last month at a medical institution in Gunsan, Jeollabuk-do (Gunsan Medical Center) due to symptoms such as fever and cough, but tested negative and returned home. However, as symptoms did not improve, she was retested at a public health center two days later and tested positive. The 20th patient (41, female) living in Suwon, Gyeonggi-do, also tested negative in the first test after contact with the 15th patient (43, male), a relative, but tested positive in the second test.

Currently, 526 evacuees are living at the Police Human Resources Development Institute, excluding patients 13 and 24 who stayed there. The remaining 173 Wuhan evacuees are staying at the National Human Resources Development Institute for Public Officials in Jincheon, Chungbuk. All evacuees in the living facilities tested negative in the comprehensive tests conducted after their return. However, as with patient 24, there is a possibility of cases testing positive after some time, so the government is focusing on preventing the spread of infection. All of them live in single rooms and undergo fever monitoring twice a day.

An official from the health authorities explained, "The additional confirmed evacuee has been isolated in a single room since admission to the facility, so the possibility of transmission is low. However, additional tests are expected for evacuees who traveled on the same bus." The official added that one evacuee showing suspicious symptoms was tested at the National Human Resources Development Institute for Public Officials in Jincheon, Chungbuk, the previous day but tested negative.

However, as the possibility of cases initially testing negative and later positive increases due to the absence of early symptoms, there are calls to review the management system again. Professor Kim Nam-joong of the Department of Internal Medicine at Seoul National University College of Medicine emphasized at a press conference held by the Korean Society of Infectious Diseases on the 6th, "Since there are cases where the initial test is negative but turns positive after a few days, releasing isolation based on a negative test has a blind spot in preventing community transmission."

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