By Na Jeong-ju, Bae Ji-sook
Staff Reporter
President Lee Myung-bak instructed his administration Monday to inject emergency funds, if necessary, to increase the supply of drugs to treat Influenza A, a presidential spokesman said.
The declaration came after health authorities recommended that the country needs to nearly double its stock of drugs to treat a growing number of patients infected with the new flu.
"Among other things, the initiative should gain public trust for preparation against the influenza," Lee said at a meeting of senior secretariats.
The government is alarmed over the possibility of a mass infection with the new school semester starting this week. About 38 schools that have seen more than three of their students infected have suspended the start of their new semester.
"After receiving a report that the new flu could rapidly spread in October or November, the President said the government must make utmost efforts to secure a sufficient supply of drugs, including Tamiflu," presidential spokesman Lee Dong-kwan said following Lee's meeting with his senior secretaries.
As of Monday, more than 3,000 South Koreans had been diagnosed with the new H1N1 virus since it was first reported here in May. About 1,000 patients are currently being treated at hospitals or at home.
Seoul currently has enough Tamiflu to inoculate some 5.31 million people, about 10 percent of the country's total population. But health officials reported Monday that the country will need to secure enough for 20 percent of the population.
"This means the government will inject emergency funds if necessary to secure the required drugs," the spokesman said.
To help stop the spread of the virus, the government asked schools to refrain from holding events such as picnics, trips, training days and other social activities.
A number of other schools which have one or two infected students are considering delaying the start of the new semester. "Teachers are checking whether individuals have taken the flu test," an education ministry official said.
The Ministry for Health, Welfare and Family Affairs has designated 455 hospitals and pharmacies nationwide as centers for influenza tests and treatment. But some of them have refused to undertake the service out of fear that in-house patients, doctors and medical staffers will be exposed to the virus.