Notice
Prevention and Control of MERS (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome)
Since the diagnosis of Korea’s first MERS patient, the number of MERS patients has increased rapidly, causing concern among POSTECH members. Accordingly, POSTECH Health Service Center hereby announces guidelines for preventing and controlling the spread of MERS. For those of you who have symptoms of the MERS virus, please immediately report it to either POSTECH Health Center or Pohang Namgu Health Center in order to prevent spread of the disease. Please carefully read the following information below:
1. MERS (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome) Overview
A. What is MERS? MERS is a respiratory illness caused by the infection of coronavirus.
B. Clinical Characteristics
– Incubation Period: Symptoms appear within 5 days (2-14 days)
– Symptoms: Fever of 37.5 degrees or higher, respiratory symptoms
(cough, difficulty breathing, pneumonia, etc.), acute renal failure, etc.
– Route of Infection: Specific routes and sources of infection have not yet been confirmed;
however, it has been reported that close contact with the MERS patients or infection
through close contact with camels could have been the cause.
– Patients with chronic illnesses or low immune system will be hard to treat and recover.
– Treatment: Preventive vaccines and medicine has not yet been developed;
medical treatments depending on the patients’ symptoms.
2. POSTECH MERS Infection Control Procedures
A. Report: Report to POSTECH Health Service Center or Pohang Namgu Health Center
– Reporting to POSTECH Health Service Center
☞ Measure temperature and ask the patient about his or her symptoms ->
If the patient’s temperature is 37.5 degrees or higher, report to Pohang Namgu Health
Center -> medical staff from Pohang Namgu Health Center visit POSTECH ->
Examine the patient and conduct epidemiological survey -> If a patient is suspected to
have MERS, he or she will be transferred to government-designated quarantine
facilities ->Diagnosis -> If the result is positive, the patient will be treated
under quarantine.
☞ If the patient’s temperature is lower than 37.5, the patient will be closely watched.
– Reporting directly to Pohang Namgu Health Center: Same process as the above
※ Emergency Report
․ POSTECH: During daytime, please contact POSTECH Health Service Center at
279-2620, and during nighttime, please contact Security Control at 279-2222.
․ Pohang Namgu Health Center: During daytime, please call 270-4032~4, and
during nighttime, please call 270-4004 (Operate overnight).
3. Prevention of MERS
A. Abide by the personal sanitation practices such as washing hands thoroughly.
B. Avoid visiting crowded places; if you must visit such places, please wear masks.
Ex) group events, picnics, seminars/conferences, etc.
C. Do not touch eyes, nose, or lips with your hands.
D. Avoid close contact with someone who has fever or other respiratory symptoms.
E. When coughing, cover your mouth with handkerchief and wear masks if necessary.
※ You may purchase masks from the convenience stores at Jigok Community Center
and Student Union Building.
F. Please visit POSTECH Health Center or other medical facilities when having symptoms
such as fever, cough, and difficulty breathing.
G. Please visit the website of Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
(
(http://travelinfo.cdc.go.kr) for detailed information on MERS.
4. Contact Information:
POSTECH Health Center, Bong-hwa Kim (Tel. 279-2620)
