By Bae Ji-sook
Staff Reporter
A 22-year-old Vietnamese woman who flew to Korea en route to Ho Chi Minh from Seattle was confirmed to have been contracted H1N1 Influenza A here, the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Management said Tuesday.
The patient is now hospitalized in an isolation ward, the government said, adding that her condition is stable.
She is the first case to be reported in 15 days after three patients were released from hospital.
According to authorities, the woman arrived from Seattle around 6:30 p.m. Sunday. Her only symptom was high fever, they said.
The government moved swiftly to administer antiviral drugs to flight crew and passengers since human-to-human transmission has been reported. It has also advised passengers to stay isolated at home for nine days, the known incubation period.
However, 37 passengers have still to be contacted and the authorities are on alert over possible additional transmission. It has been airing warnings during TV programs asking them to contact local public health care centers for tests and treatment.