MERS-hit woman gives birth to healthy baby boy

By Kim Se-jeong

A pregnant woman who contracted Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) has given birth to a healthy baby, the Ministry of Health and Welfare said Tuesday.

Three additional cases of MERS were also confirmed bringing the total to 175. There were no additional deaths.

Both the mother and the baby are in good condition, after the former was declared free of the virus a day before the birth.

The 39-year-old delivered a boy at 4:33 a.m. in Samsung Medical Center (SMC) where she had been undergoing treatment for the virus infection.

The delivery was through a Caesarean section because of a premature separation of the placenta, which the hospital said was unrelated to MERS.

The woman, who had stayed at the hospital since mid-May ahead of childbirth, was diagnosed with MERS on June 10 after visiting her sick mother at the hospital’s emergency room where the 14th patient spread the disease to more than 80 people.

“At first we were concerned because some World Health Organization reports showed cases where a baby or a mother with MERS died,” said Prof. Lee Jae-gap from Hallym University Hospital during a government press briefing.

“But for her, symptoms disappeared quickly after the diagnosis, and we were sure of her recovery because she tested negative twice before being announced as MERS-free.”

Lee, who is a member of the government’s response team, said it may be the first time for a pregnant woman who has had MERS to give birth safely; and for both the mother and the baby to be healthy. The baby also tested negative for MERS through a test conducted right after birth.

Meanwhile, one of the three new patients is a 70-year-old female care provider.

She was diagnosed with the disease at Hallym University Kangdong Sacred Heart Hospital, and the hospital closed down part of its facility and put those possibly exposed to her into isolation.

Another is a 75-year-old man who visited SMC as an outpatient on June 4, 8 and 9. The government is figuring out exactly how he was exposed to the virus, whether from the 14th patient or a medical assistant there who was later confirmed infected.

The last is a 74-year-old man who was treated for pneumonia at Good Morning Hospital in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province. The authorities suspect he contracted the virus from his wife who was earlier diagnosed and died.

Four more patients were released from quarantine facilities, bringing the total number of those who have recovered to 54.

Among the four released is the 14th patient, a so-called super spreader. Over 80 patients are suspected of having contracted the virus from him at SMC’s emergency room where he was admitted for fever and shortness of breath. He was confirmed on May 30.

“He went home after all the symptoms disappeared and he tested negative,” a ministry official said.

Meanwhile, the government banned suspected MERS patients from domestic air travel. An overseas travel ban has already been imposed.