Treyfish
Moderator
SEOUL, Sept. 11 (Yonhap) -- South Korea told its provincial and municipal governments Friday to avoid holding public gatherings that could become breeding grounds for Influenza A (H1N1).
The move comes amid mounting concerns that the number of type-A flu infections is picking up speed. Five people have died due to complications linked with the disease since it was first reported here in May.
"We recommend that regional governments call off or delay indoor events where highly vulnerable people are expected to attend, while taking the same measure on events or festivals where anti-infection measures cannot be easily carried out" the Ministry for Health, Welfare and Family Affairs said in an e-mailed statement.
Those highly vulnerable include children below age five and seniors people aged 65 or older, pregnant women and people with chronic diseases or weak immune systems, it added.
Decisions of whether to hold outdoor gatherings still remain in the hands of regional governments but they are required to take appropriate measures aimed at staving off infections, according to the ministry.
The recommendation is part of a guideline set out by the ministry and other related government agencies. The measure will start going effect from Friday until the pandemic risk subsides, the ministry added.
South Korea has confirmed more than 7,000 infections of the H1N1 virus. Most have fully recovered but an increasing number of cases has raised fears the disease could spread at a more rapid pace.
The government earlier said that it will vaccinate around 10 million people against the virus by the end of this year. Full-scale vaccination will begin in November and aims to inoculate 27 percent of the nation's 49 million people by February next year, it added.:tiphat:http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/national/2009/09/11/68/0301000000AEN20090911003600320F.HTML
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The move comes amid mounting concerns that the number of type-A flu infections is picking up speed. Five people have died due to complications linked with the disease since it was first reported here in May.
"We recommend that regional governments call off or delay indoor events where highly vulnerable people are expected to attend, while taking the same measure on events or festivals where anti-infection measures cannot be easily carried out" the Ministry for Health, Welfare and Family Affairs said in an e-mailed statement.
Those highly vulnerable include children below age five and seniors people aged 65 or older, pregnant women and people with chronic diseases or weak immune systems, it added.
Decisions of whether to hold outdoor gatherings still remain in the hands of regional governments but they are required to take appropriate measures aimed at staving off infections, according to the ministry.
The recommendation is part of a guideline set out by the ministry and other related government agencies. The measure will start going effect from Friday until the pandemic risk subsides, the ministry added.
South Korea has confirmed more than 7,000 infections of the H1N1 virus. Most have fully recovered but an increasing number of cases has raised fears the disease could spread at a more rapid pace.
The government earlier said that it will vaccinate around 10 million people against the virus by the end of this year. Full-scale vaccination will begin in November and aims to inoculate 27 percent of the nation's 49 million people by February next year, it added.:tiphat:http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/national/2009/09/11/68/0301000000AEN20090911003600320F.HTML
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