As the rapid spread of Middle East respiratory syndrome fuels worry in the country, misconceptions and urban myths have also sprung up around the disease that has claimed two lives and sickened 30 people since its outbreak two weeks ago. One popular myth that went viral online Tuesday was to apply Vaseline, a brand of petroleum jelly, inside the nose as a way of preventing MERS infection. The viral post stated that applying Vaseline, which is fat-soluble substance, will prevent the water-soluble

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

A South Korean man who was confirmed to have Middle East Respiratory Syndrome in China has remained in stable condition, according to Chinese officials and state media Sunday. Chinese health authorities have been on alert since the 44-year-old man tested positive for MERS on Friday, the first confirmed case in China. In South Korea, the number of patients infected with the virus rose to 15 as of Sunday. The Korean man, the son of another patient who was diagnosed with the virus in South Korea on

Seoul said Thursday that three people have been infected by Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) and 64 people, including health care workers and the patients’ families, are being monitored for possible infection.All three patients were quarantined at a government-certified facility and reported to be in stable condition.The first confirmed patient was diagnosed with the disease on Wednesday, about 17 days after he returned to Korea from trip to the Middle East and eight days after he started

South Korea confirmed a third case of the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome on Thursday, one day after it reported its first-ever case of the viral disease.  The latest case was confirmed in a 76-year-old man who had shared a hospital room with the first patient to be diagnosed with MERS, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.  The case also came shortly after the wife of the first patient, a 68-year-old man, was diagnosed with the disease earlier Thursday.  The CDC sa

South Korea is considering raising its watch against the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome, health officials said Thursday, one day after the country reported its first case of the viral disease.  Officials from the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said an experts' meeting will be held later in the day to decide whether to raise the country's watch against the new respiratory disease to the second-highest level of alert.  The move comes one day after a 68-year-old man was diagnose

The South Korean government warned of a possible overdose of nicotine for those who smoke electronic cigarettes Tuesday, while ordering a recall of 10 e-cigarettes over defective power cord plugs that may cause a fire or electric shock.  The 10 electric cord plugs of e-cigarettes subject to a recall contain a defective electrical insulator that may break down when exposed to an alternating current of over 3,000 volts, according to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy.  All 10 products are