A woman who was placed in isolation at a Taipei hospital on Saturday after she developed a fever on returning from South Korea yesterday tested negative for Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS).
The Taiwanese woman walked to the Zhongxiao branch of Taipei City Hospital on Saturday evening seeking treatment for a fever, the Taipei City Department of Health said, adding that she was admitted to an isolation ward after an influenza screening showed a negative result.
She was then tested for MERS and the result was found to be negative yesterday, the department said.
Photo: PICHI CHUANG, Reuters
The woman traveled to Seoul on Tuesday for a six-hour shopping trip, before heading to China via Hong Kong.
She returned back home on Friday, according to the department.
South Korean government statistics indicate that the number of confirmed MERS cases has reached 145, 15 of whom have died and 120 are being treated in hospitals.
Taiwan has issued a travel alert for South Korea, urging people to exercise caution while there and has advised travelers returning from MERS affected countries to seek medical attention if they develop symptoms such as a fever, cough or difficulty breathing.
MERS, which is caused by a novel coronavirus, affects the respiratory system, and most patients develop severe acute respiratory illness with symptoms of fever, cough and shortness of breath.
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