The first confirmed Middle East respiratory syndrome patient in Daegu was found to have continued working with an extensive number of people, despite having symptoms.

The patient, identified as a 52-year-old public official working for a district office, reportedly said “I thought I could control MERS,” when asked why he ignored government instructions and did not report himself.

The patient is deemed to have contacted the virus while visiting his mother admitted to the emergency center in Seoul’s Samsung Medical Center on May 27 and 28. Since then he continued to work from May 29 to June 12. Reports said he also attended dinner gatherings with the colleagues on June 8 and 12 and shared shot glasses with them.

He said he began to get a fever from June 13 but continued normal activities, including going to a public bathhouse the next day. He was eventually tested for MERS on June 15. The first and second tests confirmed him as being infected with MERS. His mother and sister have also reportedly been confirmed as having the disease and are receiving treatment.

Daegu authorities have closed down the district office and the bathhouse and placed those that came into contact with the patient on isolated watch.

(khnews@heraldcorp.com)