Two MERS patients get blood plasma injections

By Lee Kyung-min

Two confirmed patients of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) received blood plasma injection treatment, but have yet to show signs of recovery, the Ministry of Health and Welfare said Monday.

The two are a police officer surnamed Lee and a doctor surnamed Park who worked at the Samsung Medical Center in southern Seoul, aged 35 and 38 respectively.

They received the blood plasma from a man, who had fully recovered as of June 11, surnamed Kim, 45, an Air Force chief master sergeant at Osan Air Base in Gyeonggi Province.

Kim was confirmed for infection on June 5, but was released from hospital after a week of treatment.

Park was diagnosed on June 4, and Lee on June 10. Both have been in critical condition since June 8 and 10 respectively.

They reportedly exhibited no symptoms of MERS and had no history of chronic illness.

“Blood plasma injection is not a medically proven treatment, but is often carried out in the absence of other treatments available,” an official at Hallym University Medical Center said.

“The treatment was carried out in an attempt to improve the dire condition the two are in. Implementing the treatment is an option so long as it is done with the consent of the donor and the receiver,” the official said.