By Lee Kyung-min
Health authorities confirmed an outbreak in the country of Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS), a deadly new virus that is sweeping Arabic countries.
According to the Ministry of Health and Welfare, the infected patient, 68, is currently under treatment, and is in a stable condition.
The man visited a hospital seeking treatment after experiencing symptoms of violent coughing and fever soon after returning from a trip to Middle Eastern countries, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDCP).
He stayed in Bahrain from mid-April and returned to Korea on May 4.
The man reportedly spent substantial hours on a farm on a daily basis during his stay.
He reportedly did not come into contact with camels, which transmit the disease, a CDCP official said.
The mildly contagious yet highly deadly virus was first discovered in 2012 in Saudi Arabia. No vaccines are available for the disease yet.
Out of 1,142 confirmed cases reported in 23 countries, 465 people have died, marking 40 percent fatality rate.
So far, no confirmed cases have been reported in Bahrain; and Qatar reported zero cases over the last two months.
After an incubation period of up to 12 days, infected people show acute respiratory distress, often resulting in lung failure or kidney irregularities.
The health authorities plan to conduct an inspection for additional suspected cases.
His wife is also being treated for symptoms of mild coughing.
“No vaccines are available for the disease yet, but as no other cases have been reported, we advise against any unnecessary fear from the incident,” the CDCP official said.