By Lee Min-hyung
President Park Geun-hye Wednesday ordered the Samsung Medical Center (SMC) chief to strengthen disinfection measures amid growing fears over the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS).
"Stabilizing patients from SMC is key to preventing the spread of MERS," Park told the hospital's President Song Jae-hoon.
As of Thursday morning, the total number of confirmed cases rose to 165, about half of whom were infected at SMC.
Song apologized to both Park and the public for the poor handling of the deadly virus.
The President also asked for all information about MERS infections and patients to be released to the public.
Her comments were made in a meeting with health officials and experts at the Korea National Institute of Health in Osong, North Chungcheong Province. Health minister Moon Hyung-pyo and presidential Chief of Staff Lee Byung-ki also attended the meeting.
"If there are MERS-confirmed patients in other hospitals, health officials and the task force should take proper measures with hospital chiefs," Park said.