South Korea confirms two deaths from disease
Medical experts at a prestigious Chinese university said Tuesday they have developed a possible new cure that could provide emergency treatment for people with high infection risks of the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) virus.
Jiang Shibo, head of the Fudan University research team, told the China Science Daily that they have developed a chemical compound called HR2P-M2, which could be used for the high risk group, especially those who come in close contact with MERS patients such as medical staff, patients' family members and their ward roommates.
Jiang said that the polypeptide could also be applied to MERS patients to reduce the number of virus particles released and effectively control the infection source.
Ying Tianlei, another team member, said that they have also developed an antibody called m336 together with the US-based National Institutes of Health. In lab tests, he said the antibody killed the active MERS virus almost instantly.
"If the authorities and MERS patients agree to use both m336 and HR2P-M2 for emergency treatment, it might save their lives," said Jiang, adding that there is a slim chance of a MERS outbreak in China.
South Korea on Tuesday reported the first two deaths from the MERS outbreak, including a 58-year-old woman who was exposed to the country's first MERS patient for three days and a 71-year-old man who had lived on the same floor with the first patient in the hospital and had a kidney ailment, media reported.
A total of 25 people have been diagnosed with MERS in two weeks in South Korea.
Hong Kong authorities on Monday tightened its inspection of possible MERS cases, saying that all inbound travelers, if found to have visited any hospital in Seoul and have a fever or respiratory symptoms, will be treated as potential MERS carriers and will be required to undergo medical tests, the Sing Tao Daily reported Tuesday.
The report said that all locals including patients are required to wear a mask when going to public hospitals.
A 32-year-old South Korean man was intercepted at the Hong Kong airport on Monday and is under an eight-day quarantine in the Lady MacLehose Holiday Village, according to Leung Ting-hung, director of Hong Kong's Center for Health Protection.
The man reportedly sat close to the 44-year-old South Korean man, China's first imported MERS patient, on the same flight to Hong Kong on May 26.
Taiwan health authorities said Monday that the suspected MERS patient was tested negative and only suffered from a flu, according to China News Service. The report said that Taiwan has been on alert and called on local residents to improve hygiene.
