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Young, healthy also fall victim to MERS

June 16, 2015

56 out of 150 patients aged 50 or below

By Lee Kyung-min

The Ministry of Health and Welfare said Monday that 56 of the 150 patients confirmed to have contracted Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) are aged 50 or younger and were previously in relatively good health.

Also, of the 16 confirmed patients who died, two were without underlying medical conditions. A man, 61, who died Sunday, was confirmed infected on June 9 after visiting a relative in Samsung Medical Center. A woman, 72, who was confirmed with MERS on June 6, fell into a coma that day and died five days later. Both reportedly had no history of major illness.

According to age brackets, the numbers of confirmed patients were nine in their 80s; 24 in their 70s; 30 in their 60s; 31 in their 50s; 28 in their 40s; 20 in their 30s; seven in their 20s; and one teenager.

A day earlier, of seven cases confirmed that day, three patients were in their 30s.

Such recent cases are in stark contrast to the public perception so far that infection and subsequent death is only highly likely for those aged 60 or above with previous underlying medical conditions including diabetes, kidney problems and weak respiratory systems.

Also dispelled is the high likelihood that those diagnosed already had deteriorating immune systems after suffering from cancer and other chronic illnesses, or were undergoing long-term treatment.

Two cases in point include a Samsung Medical Center doctor surnamed Park, 38, and a police officer at Pyeongtaek Police Station, surnamed Lee, aged 35.

Park, who was confirmed to have the illness on June 4, has been in a critical condition since June 8. Lee was diagnosed on June 10.

Both were reportedly in good health without previous histories of chronic illnesses other than seasonal allergies.

The conditions of both patients exacerbated rapidly and they are being treated with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO).

Medical equipment for this provides both cardiac and respiratory support because their hearts and lungs are unable to operate to support the necessary amount of gas exchanges through the organs to sustain life.

Their condition is called a “cytokine storm,” a potentially fatal immune reaction, under which the immune system of a healthy person deteriorates due to increased amount of in-body reaction to the new virus unfamiliar to the body.

A ministry official said most of the newly confirmed patients in their 30s and 40s are either medical staff or children whose parents have MERS.

“They are believed to have contracted the virus via direct contact in hospitals. To be sure, we are listing the places they recently visited,” an official said.

“We are aware about the fear. We will announce the results as soon as we reach a conclusion on these infections.”