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SEOUL, May 17 (Yonhap) -- South Korea has deciphered the genetic sequence of the new type-A influenza, potentially enhancing the country's ability to cope with the spread of the disease, the government said Sunday.
The Korea Center for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) said the successful genetic mapping makes South Korea the third in the world to do so after the United States and Canada, and could help quarantine and health authorities to better detect and find customized treatment for the disease, which has so far killed 73 people.
The flu was first reported in Mexico and has spread to 36 countries. It has affected 8,451 people although deaths have only been reported in North America and Costa Rica.
The KCDC, under the health ministry, said the genetic sequence was taken from a 51-year-old woman who was the country's first confirmed type-A flu patient. It has been registered as A/KOREA/01/2009(H1N1)swl at the U.S. operated Genebank.
It added that while the virus is very different from the seasonal flu that regularly sweeps through the country during the cold months, the genetic sequence is 99 percent identical to versions of the virus found in the United States, with tests showing it responded to the anti-viral drug Tamiflu.
The genetic sequence will be shared with researchers around the world and can facilitate efforts by the World Health Organization (WHO) to find a vaccine. The full picture of the virus, in addition, can help scientists follow the development of variant strains or mutations that may pose serious problems.
The strain has so far responded to existing drugs, with the WHO recommending rest and drinking plenty of fluids as effective treatment.
The KCDC, meanwhile, said that all of the three confirmed type-A flu patients have been released from quarantine and showed no remaining symptoms of the disease.
A total of 520 people visited local clinics and hospitals complaining of flu symptoms, the agency said, with tests of 506 coming up negative for the variant H1N1 virus. At present, detailed tests are being conducted on 11 people.
Seoul had not reported a type-A flu case in two weeks.
http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/national/2009/05/17/69/0302000000AEN20090517001300320F.HTML
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The Korea Center for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) said the successful genetic mapping makes South Korea the third in the world to do so after the United States and Canada, and could help quarantine and health authorities to better detect and find customized treatment for the disease, which has so far killed 73 people.
The flu was first reported in Mexico and has spread to 36 countries. It has affected 8,451 people although deaths have only been reported in North America and Costa Rica.
The KCDC, under the health ministry, said the genetic sequence was taken from a 51-year-old woman who was the country's first confirmed type-A flu patient. It has been registered as A/KOREA/01/2009(H1N1)swl at the U.S. operated Genebank.
It added that while the virus is very different from the seasonal flu that regularly sweeps through the country during the cold months, the genetic sequence is 99 percent identical to versions of the virus found in the United States, with tests showing it responded to the anti-viral drug Tamiflu.
The genetic sequence will be shared with researchers around the world and can facilitate efforts by the World Health Organization (WHO) to find a vaccine. The full picture of the virus, in addition, can help scientists follow the development of variant strains or mutations that may pose serious problems.
The strain has so far responded to existing drugs, with the WHO recommending rest and drinking plenty of fluids as effective treatment.
The KCDC, meanwhile, said that all of the three confirmed type-A flu patients have been released from quarantine and showed no remaining symptoms of the disease.
A total of 520 people visited local clinics and hospitals complaining of flu symptoms, the agency said, with tests of 506 coming up negative for the variant H1N1 virus. At present, detailed tests are being conducted on 11 people.
Seoul had not reported a type-A flu case in two weeks.
http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/national/2009/05/17/69/0302000000AEN20090517001300320F.HTML_________________
