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Another suspected FMD case found in Anseong

A suspected case of foot-and-mouth disease has been reported in Anseong. YonhapA suspected case of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) was reported in Anseong on Tuesday, a day after the government confirmed a type O variant case in the area.The owner of a "hanwoo" beef cattle farm in Anseong, 80 kilometers south of Seoul, reported a suspected case to the Gyeonggi Province government.The farm is located 11.4 kilometers from the place of the confirmed case of FMD. The farm has 97 hanwoo beef cattle, with three of them showing symptoms, such as drooling and weak legs.Hanwoo are premium beef cattle produced in South Korea.The ministry said officials from Gyeonggi Province were sent to the site to carry out the test, with the result anticipated to be delivered later this day.All comings and goings of people and animals are being controlled at the farm of concern, the ministry said, claiming it will carry out necessary measures if the suspected case is confirmed to be a new case. Local authorities have been rolling out quarantine measures in Anseong after the Ministry of Agriculture, Food a

Jan 29, 2019

Another suspected FMD case found in Anseong

Concern growing over spread of influenza in Japan here

Korean Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says the situation in Japan is not serious and people don't have to worry too much about influenza spreading here. / Courtesy of GettyimagesbankBy Kim Jae-heunConcern is growing here over an influenza outbreak in Japan that has been spreading at an alarming rate a week ahead of the Lunar New Year holiday, during which a large number of Koreans are expected to visit the neighboring country.According to Japanese media outlets, the number of flu patients was estimated at 5.41 million as of Sunday following an increase of 2.13 million last week. During last year's Lunar New Year holiday, nearly 940,000 people traveled overseas, and over 24 percent of them visited Japan, according to the country's largest tour agency Hana Tour. A similar number of Koreans is expected to travel to various regions in Japan this year.As a result, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is reviewing whether to designate Japan as a travel-alert area if the outbreak worsens. Japan issues an alert and recognizes an outbreak as an epidemic when the average

Jan 27, 2019By Kim Jae-heun

Concern growing over spread of influenza in Japan here

Korea sees surge in bipolar disorder patients

By Kim Hyun-bin Bipolar disorder has become the center of attention in the medical world here as it has led to scores of deadly incidents including murder and suicide in recent years. According to a 2017 report from the Ministry of Health and Welfare, more than 86,000 people suffer from bipolar disorder in Korea.The number of patients increased 21 percent from 71,600 in 2013 to 86,300 in 2017, according to the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service.Most were in their 40s, followed by those in their 30s, 50s, 20s and 60s.Bipolar disorder, formerly called manic depression, is a psychiatric condition that causes extreme mood swings from emotional highs to extreme lows. Patients show symptoms of mania or hypomania and depression in turn, and these cause unpredictable changes in mood and behavior, resulting in significant distress and difficulty in life. When a bipolar patient becomes depressed, they may feel sad or hopeless and lose interest or pleasure in most activities. It can cause noticeable difficulty in daily activities, such as work, school, social activities or relations

Jan 27, 2019By Kim Hyun-bin

Korea sees surge in bipolar disorder patients

Nearly half of mothers giving first birth had C-sections in 2017

Nearly half of Korean mothers giving birth for the first time had C-sections in 2017. gettyimagesbankNearly half of South Korean mothers giving birth to their first child received caesarean sections in 2017, data showed Sunday, with the percentage rising over recent years.According to the data compiled by the Health Insurance Review & Assessment Service, 48.8 percent of mothers giving birth for the first time had C-sections in 2017.A C-section is a form of childbirth in which a surgical incision is made through a mother's abdomen and uterus in times of medical complications.The figure marks a 3.4 percentage-point increase from 45.4 percent posted in 2016. In 2006, the number stood at 34.9 percent.The data showed 45 percent of all mothers had them.The increase in the percentage apparently came as more mothers are giving birth at older ages than in the past.Around 29 percent of the mothers giving birth were aged 35 or older last year, up 3 percentage points on-year. In 2006, only 14 percent of mothers giving birth were in the age group.While 7 percent of women giving birt

Jan 27, 2019

Nearly half of mothers giving first birth had C-sections in 2017

When 'escape game' becomes real situation

By Jung Hae-myoung A couple, or a group of people, pour over a set of clues in a dark room they are locked in. They focus on solving problems with the clues in order to escape the room within a set time limit. But, until all clues are solved, the customers cannot get out, and while they may be enjoying the fun of escaping, it is easy for them to overlook the fact that they are locked in.If a fire breaks out, it is even more difficult for customers to get out because some buildings have maze-like elements as part of the game. Also, in some escape rooms, it is hard to figure out the location of the exit because the players are left blindfolded after having been led into the room by a staffer.On Jan. 5, five teenagers locked in an escape room in Poland were killed in a fire; while a man in his 20s was severely injured and hospitalized. The Polish government ordered fire safety inspections of over a thousand such facilities after the tragedy, and the government here also became concerned as escape rooms have become popular among Korean youngsters. The business is also a legal blind spot

Jan 25, 2019

When 'escape game' becomes real situation

Fishing festival under fire for animal abuse

A man puts trout in his T-shirt after catching it barehanded at Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival in Hwacheon, Gangwon Province, Sunday. / YonhapBy Kim RahnPublic awareness on animal rights has been growing in the country, with more people campaigning against animal abuse.Starting with pets like dogs and cats then moving to wild animals, now it has extended to fish.Several petitions have been posted on Cheong Wa Dae's website calling for the abolishment of fishing festivals or at least an improvement of the programs, which they labeled as mere “slaughter.” The main target is the Hwacheon Sancheoneo (trout) Ice Festival, which has become one of the most popular winter festivals drawing more than 1.5 million visitors every year. This year's edition, which started on Jan. 5, is nearing its end on Jan. 27. “The Sancheoneo festival finishes only when 760,000 fish die only for human beings' fun,” one petitioner wrote. “For humans, it is a festival, but for the trout, it is massacre and abuse.”Catching fish at the festivals is not in violation of the Anima

Jan 23, 2019By Kim Rahn

Fishing festival under fire for animal abuse

Dancing prevents physical impairment in elderly women: study

Participants in a senior dance sports competition perform at Seoul Fashion Art Hall, central Seoul. Korea Times fileBy Lee Suh-yoonElderly women who enjoy paired dancing activities such as salsa, the tango, or ballroom dancing can better fend off physical impairments associated with aging, according to a joint study.According to an eight-year study on 1,003 women between the ages of 70 and 84 in Itabashi, Tokyo, women who enjoyed sports dancing had a 74 percent lower chance of experiencing motion-related disabilities that could hinder daily routines such as dining or bathing, Kyung Hee University and Tokyo Metropolitan Institute for Gerontology announced Tuesday.Similar benefits were not perceived among women who were engaged in other activities, such as aerobic exercises, walking or yoga. Only dancing was found to be a clear preventive factor of activities of daily living (ADL) disabilities.The research team credited the physical benefits of dancing to its focus on balance, strength and endurance training. Cognitive abilities were also enhanced, it said, as dancing requires both con

Jan 22, 2019

Dancing prevents physical impairment in elderly women: study

Infectious diseases spread nationwide

Posters at a hospital in Ansan, Gyeonggi Province, show how to prevent measles infection, Monday, as about 10 measles cases have been confirmed in the province. / YonhapBy Jung Hae-myoung Infectious diseases are spreading nationwide, including chickenpox, measles and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), putting health authorities on high alert.This year alone, 5,427 chickenpox patients were reported as of Sunday, the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) said Tuesday. The number of chickenpox patients has been increasing every year, with more than 96,000 people contracting the disease last year, up 20.4 percent from a year before. Chickenpox is a viral disease with the highest chance of infection usually from winter to late spring. The virus has an incubation period of 14 to 16 days, and the symptoms include itching, rash and water-drop-shaped blisters all over the body. Kindergarten and elementary school students who usually spend their day in groups are susceptible to the disease. “The disease can be prevented if vaccinations are done at the right time. Even i

Jan 22, 2019

14% of Koreans use masturbation aids; 69% 'satisfied'

By Park Si-soo Nearly 14 percent of South Korean adults use masturbation aids, an international survey shows. Tenga, a Japanese maker of masturbation aids, organized the survey of 13,000 adults aged 18-74 in 18 countries, including 1,000 people here. Nearly 14 percent of the surveyed said they had “experience of using masturbation aids” and 69 percent were “satisfied” with their sex lives ― 10 percent higher than a 59 percent satisfaction level for non-users.More than 90 percent of users bought the aids online. The younger the users become, the less anxious they became about revealing their use of the aids to others ― 31 percent of users aged 18-34 were willing to share their experience with others, 23 percent in the 35-54 group and 21 percent in the over-55 group.

Jan 22, 2019

14% of Koreans use masturbation aids; 69% 'satisfied'

Nine measles cases in Gyeonggi areas

A rash is one measles system.By Oh Young-jinMore cases of measles have been reported, with the latest in areas adjacent to Seoul. Twenty-six cases have been confirmed. According to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Monday, eight confirmed cases were in Ansan, Gyeonggi Province, over the weekend ― five toddlers and infants, with the remaining three among their parents. One case was discovered in Siheung, also in Gyeonggi Province. The first case was reported in Daegu, on Dec. 17.The 26 cases included 15 aged four or under, with parents and medical staff making up the rest. The KCDC said the virus originated from Southeast Asia but none of the confirmed cases had records of traveling to the region recently. An investigation is under way.In Taegu alone, the number of people who may have had contact with the patients numbered 7,000 with 3,000 having passed the incubation period. The remaining 4,000 need mentoring. In the Gyeonggi areas, about 450 people are estimated to have had contact with the patients, but the number could rise. Measles is a highly contagious infect

Jan 21, 2019By Oh Young-jin

Measles infections spreading; 8 newly test positive

Health

Health

Another suspected FMD case found in Anseong

Concern growing over spread of influenza in Japan here

Korea sees surge in bipolar disorder patients

Nearly half of mothers giving first birth had C-sections in 2017

When 'escape game' becomes real situation

Fishing festival under fire for animal abuse

Dancing prevents physical impairment in elderly women: study

Infectious diseases spread nationwide

14% of Koreans use masturbation aids; 69% 'satisfied'

Nine measles cases in Gyeonggi areas

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