Officials must not repeat MERS blunders
Korea has confirmed the country's first Zika virus infection. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDCP) said a man, 43, tested positive for the mosquito-borne virus Tuesday.
The patient returned home on March 11 via Germany after traveling to Brazil from Feb. 19 to March 9. While in Brazil, he used mosquito repellant and wore long-sleeved shirts, but to no avail.
The patient is being treated at a hospital in the southwestern city of Gwangju. Health authorities are closely tracking his movements since he returned.
Since China and Japan reported their first confirmed cases of the virus last month, speculation has been rife that it would only be a matter of time before Korea reported its first case.
Those who contract the Zika virus usually suffer fever, a rash and muscle pain. But if a woman is infected during pregnancy, the baby could be born with an abnormally small head, a condition known as microcephaly.
Zika, which the aedes aegypti mosquito transmits, has not been proven to cause microcephaly in babies. But experts warn of a ''strongly suspected'' relationship between the virus and microcephaly.
Brazil, in particular, has reportedly confirmed more than 800 cases of microcephaly and claims that most are related to Zika infections. However, there is neither a vaccine nor medicine.
The virus was first reported in Brazil last May and has been spreading rapidly throughout Latin America. In early February, the World Health Organization declared the Zika virus outbreak to be a global public health emergency.
Even so, there is no need to panic ― the virus is unlikely to spread rapidly because respiratory transmission is not possible.
The CDCP decided to maintain its alert level at ''attention'' because the virus is less contagious and has a relatively low fatality rate.
But one needs to be cautious because Zika can be transmitted through sexual relations and blood transfusions.
The most effective way to prevent infection is not to be bitten by mosquitoes. So the highest degree of caution is needed when visiting Brazil and other Latin American countries where Zika infections are severe.
Given that more than 20 million Koreans travel abroad every year, concern about more infections might be natural. This concern is all the more realistic, considering that many Koreans are expected to visit Brazil for the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro in August.
The government should do whatever it can to prevent the spread of the virus and strengthen disinfection operations. Health officials, in particular, must not repeat their last year's blunders when dealing with the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), which claimed 38 lives.
Public cooperation is also essential. People should refrain from traveling to Zika-affected regions, and those who have already visited such areas should consult a doctor if they experience symptoms within two weeks.
Korea has confirmed the country's first Zika virus infection. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDCP) said a man, 43, tested positive for the mosquito-borne virus Tuesday.
The patient returned home on March 11 via Germany after traveling to Brazil from Feb. 19 to March 9. While in Brazil, he used mosquito repellant and wore long-sleeved shirts, but to no avail.
The patient is being treated at a hospital in the southwestern city of Gwangju. Health authorities are closely tracking his movements since he returned.
Since China and Japan reported their first confirmed cases of the virus last month, speculation has been rife that it would only be a matter of time before Korea reported its first case.
Those who contract the Zika virus usually suffer fever, a rash and muscle pain. But if a woman is infected during pregnancy, the baby could be born with an abnormally small head, a condition known as microcephaly.
Zika, which the aedes aegypti mosquito transmits, has not been proven to cause microcephaly in babies. But experts warn of a ''strongly suspected'' relationship between the virus and microcephaly.
Brazil, in particular, has reportedly confirmed more than 800 cases of microcephaly and claims that most are related to Zika infections. However, there is neither a vaccine nor medicine.
The virus was first reported in Brazil last May and has been spreading rapidly throughout Latin America. In early February, the World Health Organization declared the Zika virus outbreak to be a global public health emergency.
Even so, there is no need to panic ― the virus is unlikely to spread rapidly because respiratory transmission is not possible.
The CDCP decided to maintain its alert level at ''attention'' because the virus is less contagious and has a relatively low fatality rate.
But one needs to be cautious because Zika can be transmitted through sexual relations and blood transfusions.
The most effective way to prevent infection is not to be bitten by mosquitoes. So the highest degree of caution is needed when visiting Brazil and other Latin American countries where Zika infections are severe.
Given that more than 20 million Koreans travel abroad every year, concern about more infections might be natural. This concern is all the more realistic, considering that many Koreans are expected to visit Brazil for the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro in August.
The government should do whatever it can to prevent the spread of the virus and strengthen disinfection operations. Health officials, in particular, must not repeat their last year's blunders when dealing with the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), which claimed 38 lives.
Public cooperation is also essential. People should refrain from traveling to Zika-affected regions, and those who have already visited such areas should consult a doctor if they experience symptoms within two weeks.
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