With a growing number of South Korean students who were studying abroad returning to their hometown, the total number of suspected SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) cases in South Korea sharply increased to 41,according to South Korean health authorities on Wednesday.
So far, no confirmed SARS case has been reported in South Korea.
The National Institute of Health (NIH) was quoted by national news agency Yonhap News as saying five male and female students returning from China Tuesday reported high fevers and abnormal medical conditions, but adding, "The five students appear unlikelyto have contracted SARS, but we will do research to determine the source of their symptoms."
"With the anxiety mounting over SARS, at least one suspected case has been reported per day since last Thursday," said Kwon Jun-wuk, chief of the NIH's quarantine division.
To cope with suspected SARS patients, the NIH plans to designate hospitals for dealing with them exclusively.
The airports in South Korea have tighten the check of the passengers coming from the severe contagious disease affected countries and areas by taking temperatures of them and quarantining health condition of them.
(Xinhua News Agency April 23, 2003)
