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A new “epidemic”. In addition to the Covid 19 infection wave, North Korea classifies an outbreak of an unidentified intestinal disease that is already affecting at least 800 families there.
As reported by CNN and BBC, North Korea has decided to send medical teams and epidemiologists to a province where the outbreak is concentrated, in South Hwanghae. All to investigate the new outbreak, which the regime calls an “acute enteric epidemic” and which was first identified last Thursday, with no further details about the symptoms or concrete effects.
As CNN recalls, the disease is increasing pressure on a country battling isolated food shortages and a wave of Covid19 infections, as South Korean authorities point to as they analyze what is known about this new outbreak It could actually be cholera or typhoidwrites Reuters.
This Sunday, North Korea’s state news agency KNCA reported that measures such as quarantine, “intensive screening of all residents” and surveillance of people at risk, as well as disinfection of sewers and water will be imposed.
North Korean leader Kim Jongun “stressed the importance of containing the epidemic as early as possible, imposing strict quarantine on suspected cases to stop transmission, and confirming cases through testing,” the agency said.
Covid19 in North Korea: willow tea and gurgling salt water between homemade teas to treat the disease
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In May, North Korea declared a state of emergency and said millions of people had “fever” as CNN pointed out, a possible sign of untested Covid19 cases since the country has no tests. The government has recorded 73 deaths from this “fever,” but the World Health Organization fears the number is much higher.
Now the situation could become particularly dramatic because the province in question is the country’s most important agricultural region which could complicate the already scarce food distribution.