Man lied that he had MERS

Health officials disinfect their hands at a hospital in Seoul, Saturday. / Yonhap

By Lee Min-hyung

A man claimed he had been infected with the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) because he did not want to go to work, the Hwasung City government said on Saturday.

“While tracing the infection route of the man, who claimed to have been diagnosed with the deadly disease, we confirmed he worked for a Samsung Electronics' subcontracting company lied,” a city official said.

Samsung Electronics had earlier said that he had a high fever before being diagnosed with MERS. After finding out he used a commuter bus on June 5, the company quarantined for two weeks those who took the same bus.

The man claimed he tested positive last Monday, and had stayed at home since.

But the city found that he was not listed as a MERS patient, and notified the company and health ministry that he had never had the virus.