Founded in 2009, Ewha Womans University Health Promotion Center in Seoul established itself as the go-to place for female patients at home and abroad.The institution, a special unit of Ewha Womans University Mokdong Hospital, is known for its medical examination services for female patients, especially its screening tests for female-specific cancers. The facility also offers services for its male patients at a separate location. The institution was the first in the world to offer medical examina

South Korea reported four more cases of Middle East respiratory syndrome Wednesday, while announcing that it has placed 298 more people under quarantine to prevent possible infection. The Health Ministry also reported the nation’s first MERS case that occurred outside of hospitals, which may be a sign that community transmissions of the disease have taken place in the country.A hospital in Gangneung, Gangwon Province, has been closed amid MERS concerns. (Yonhap)As of Wednesday afternoon, the vir

South Korea confirmed three more Middle East respiratory syndrome cases and two more deaths Monday, raising the nation’s MERS cases to 172 and the disease’s fertility rate to 15.7 percent. As of Monday afternoon, the virus has killed 27 people in Korea.Meanwhile, the number of hospitalized MERS patients decreased to 95 from 101 the day before. Seven more individuals have been discharged from medical facilities, raising the number of recovered patients to 50. The number of people in quarantine ha

Almost a month after the first case of Middle East respiratory syndrome was confirmed in South Korea, the outbreak is showing signs of losing steam, the nation’s health officials announced Friday.　Korea marked the lowest daily increase of confirmed MERS cases Friday since June 3. The number of those quarantined also dropped significantly, to 5,930 from 6,729 the day before.　The Health Ministry confirmed only one new case Friday, as well as one MERS death, which raised the death toll to 24. The f

The number of hospitalized Middle East respiratory syndrome patients has declined, with the tally decreasing to 118 on Thursday from 124 the day before, the Health Ministry said, raising cautious hope that the worst may be over.With the number decreasing, Dr. Margaret Chan, the director-general of the World Health Organization, assured on the same day that the outbreak of MERS in South Korea can be stopped, though “it may take longer than anyone would want.” She also confirmed that the WHO found

A medical residential facility for senior citizens with fragile health conditions may have been affected by Middle East respiratory syndrome, the Health Ministry said Tuesday. This has raised questions about the government’s lack of safety measures for those who are most vulnerable to the virus, especially the elderly with pre-existing health conditions such as lung or kidney disease. As of Tuesday afternoon, the virus had killed seven people, infected 95 ― including a pregnant woman and a teena

Seoul confirmed five more MERS-affected hospitals, one death and 23 more cases Monday, bringing the nation’s total number of cases to 87 and the death toll to six. Among the newly confirmed patients was a 16-year-old, the first Korean teenager to be diagnosed.The number of cases in Korea is the second most in the world, after only Saudi Arabia, which has reported more than 1,400 cases and 428 deaths since it confirmed the first-ever case in 2012. Following Saudi Arabia and Korea is the United Ar

The Korean government on Friday named the hospital in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province, where 71 percent of all confirmed Middle East respiratory syndrome cases in Korea have occurred since May 20, backtracking on its previous stance to withhold a list of affected facilities.Visitors to the facility ― now identified as Pyeongtaek St. Mary’s Hospital ― from May 15-29 have been urged to report themselves to the authorities.As of Friday afternoon, the virus had killed four people, infected 42 and push

Seoul confirmed on Friday the fourth death from Middle East respiratory syndrome, while five more have been diagnosed with MERS in the country. One of the newly confirmed patients is an air force officer.As of Friday morning, the virus has killed four people, infected 41 and pushed public health officials to quarantine more than 1,600 others. The numbers are expected to rise as the Seoul municipal government said Thursday that the 35th confirmed patient, a medical doctor, may have exposed 1,500

Fears of the deadly virus that causes Middle East respiratory syndrome only expanded Thursday as Seoul confirmed third death, five more cases, as well as a potential outbreak in the military. Health authorities Thursday confirmed that an 82-year-old man, who shared a hospital room with the 16th confirmed MERS case patient last month and died of multiple organ failure on Wednesday, has been posthumously diagnosed with MERS. The deceased patient had been tested three times prior to his death. He t

Summer can be a vulnerable time for one’s ear health, as many problems can be triggered from swimming and loud outdoor concert music. According to South Korea’s Health Ministry, Koreans seek medical help for ruptured eardrums the most in July and August. From 2010 to 2014, an average of 3,803 people per year saw doctors for the condition during the two summer months, as compared to 2,780 people from January to February.The condition, which may lead to hearing loss, is especially common in male t

President Park Geun-hye announced Wednesday the creation of a special task force consisting of civil medical experts to act as a control tower, while expanding the pan-governmental countermeasures headquarters to cope with the outbreak of Middle East respiratory syndrome.The disease has killed two people since the first case was confirmed on May 20 and led to the isolation of 1,364 people -- a whopping increase from 791 on Tuesday. Among them, 1,261 are staying at home, while 103 are placed at g

President Park Geun-hye announced Wednesday the creation of a special task force consisting of civil medical experts to act as a control tower, while expanding the pan-governmental countermeasures headquarters to cope with the outbreak of Middle East respiratory syndrome.The disease has killed two people since the first case was confirmed on May 20 and led to the isolation of 1,364 people -- a whopping increase from 791 on Tuesday. Among them, 1,261 are staying at home, while 103 are placed at g

Seoul on Wednesday confirmed two deaths from Middle East respiratory syndrome, while five more have been added to the list of infected patients in the country. As of Wednesday morning, the number of confirmed cases in Korea marked 30, surpassing Jordan as the country with the third most MERS cases in the world. Following the news, an elementary school near the hospital where one of the deceased patients had stayed announced that it is closing temporarily from Tuesday to Friday. According to the

A 58-year-old woman who interacted with Korea’s first confirmed MERS patient died of respiratory failure on Monday evening, the Health Ministry said.The government is in the process of finding out if she had been infected with MERS. According to local news reports, she was hospitalized on May 25 after experiencing shortness of breath. She died six days after.Earlier on the day, Seoul said it was monitoring 682 people, a massive expansion from its watch list of 64 people announced last month, for

Seoul authorities on Sunday scrambled to block the spread of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome by establishing a new task force consisting of government authorities as well as civil medical experts and facilities.As of Monday morning, 18 cases had been confirmed in Korea, surpassing Qatar as the country with the fourth-most MERS cases in the world. The hospital where more than 10 people are believed to have been infected by the first confirmed patient prior to his official diagnosis was temporari

By Claire Lee Seoul confirmed its 14th and 15th Middle East respiratory syndrome cases Sunday, surpassing Qatar as the country with the fourth most MERS cases in the world. The hospital where more than 10 people are believed to have been infected by the first confirmed patient prior to his official diagnosis has been temporarily shut down.Health Minister Moon Hyung-pyo offered his apology on Sunday for the government’s poor handling of the potential MERS patients, and announced that a new task f

South Korea confirmed its sixth and seventh MERS cases Thursday, surpassing Iran as the country with the fifth-highest number of MERS cases in the world. The two newly confirmed cases are in a health care worker and a patient. Both had been at the same medical facility where the first confirmed patient was being treated prior to his diagnosis from May 15 to 17. The newly diagnosed patient was not even on the authorities’ monitoring list, as the 71-year-old did not share a hospital room with the

Food poisoning refers to infective or toxic conditions due to ingestion of foods contaminated with microorganisms, chemicals and natural toxins. More specifically, it refers to the ingestion of foods contaminated with live bacteria, or their toxins, causing diarrhea, abdominal pain and acute gastro-enteric symptoms.Approximately 80 percent of food poisoning is caused by bacteria and viruses, but other reasons include natural toxins from puffer fish, poisonous mushrooms and fungi. This is caused

As Seoul on Monday confirmed its fourth MERS case ― the daughter of the third confirmed patient, who asked to be quarantined but was rejected by the authorities ― the Health Ministry is under fire for the poor handling of the potential patients.Fear of the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome in Korea further spread on Tuesday as two medical staff members who had been in contact with the patients showed symptoms of fever. The two were transported to a hospital to test for infection, the Korea Center