Chung Sung-Jun via Getty Images
韓国ソウル近郊の城南市は6月12日、重い肺炎などを引き起こす中東呼吸器症候群（MERS＝マーズ）の暫定検査を受けた7歳の小学生1人から陽性反応がでたと発表した。実際に感染していると、10際未満の子供の感染例としては初めてとなる。これまで、10歳未満の子供へのMERS感染の確率は低いとみられていたことから、より詳しく検査を行うことにするという。
聯合ニュースによると、この小学生の父親（46）がMERS患者だという。児童は、父親のMERS感染が判明した後、自宅で隔離されていた。9日に実施した1次検査では陰性の判定を受けたが、この日行った2次検査で陽性の判定が出た。
城南市はこの児童が、これまでMERS患者が確認された病院や、感染者が立ち寄った病院には行ったことがないとみていたため、病院外で感染した初めてのケースの可能性があるとしてきた。しかし、韓国の保健福祉部（日本の厚労省に該当）は、児童は父とともに、MERS患者のいたサムスンソウル病院を訪れたとしており、4次感染ではないと見ている。
ハンギョレ新聞によると、児童と父親は5月27日、お見舞いのためにサムスンソウル病院を訪れた。父親は5日から高熱が続き、9日にMERSと確定した。児童は5日まで学校に登校したが、6日から学校を休んでいる。学校は9日から休校している。
韓国でMERSの感染広がる
South Korea Reports Eighth MERS Death(01 of28)
SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA - JUNE 09: Elementary school students wear masks as a precaution against the MERS virus as they wait for a lesson to start at Midong Elementary School on June 9, 2015 in Seoul, South Korea. South Korea has reported eight deaths related to the virus with 2,500 people quarantined and 1,800 schools closed as of June 9, 2015. (Photo by Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images) (credit:Chung Sung-Jun via Getty Images)
SKOREA-HEALTH-MERS(02 of28)
A student has her temperature taken by a teacher outside the Sungshin elementary school in Seoul on June 8, 2015. South Korea recorded its sixth death and biggest single day jump in Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) infections, with 23 new cases in the largest outbreak of the potentially deadly virus outside Saudi Arabia. AFP PHOTO / Ed Jones (Photo credit should read ED JONES/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:ED JONES via Getty Images)
South Korea Reports Eighth MERS Death(03 of28)
SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA - JUNE 09: Elementary school students wear masks as a precaution against the MERS virus as they wait for a lesson to start at Midong Elementary School on June 9, 2015 in Seoul, South Korea. South Korea has reported eight deaths related to the virus with 2,500 people quarantined and 1,800 schools closed as of June 9, 2015. (Photo by Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images) (credit:Chung Sung-Jun via Getty Images)
South Korea Reports Eighth MERS Death(04 of28)
SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA - JUNE 09: Elementary school students wear masks as a precaution against the MERS virus as they arrive at Midong Elementary School on June 9, 2015 in Seoul, South Korea. South Korea has reported eight deaths related to the virus with 2,500 people quarantined and 1,800 schools closed as of June 9, 2015. (Photo by Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images) (credit:Chung Sung-Jun via Getty Images)
South Korea Reports Eighth MERS Death(05 of28)
SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA - JUNE 09: Elementary school students wear masks as a precaution against the MERS virus as they wait for a lesson to start at Midong Elementary School on June 9, 2015 in Seoul, South Korea. South Korea has reported eight deaths related to the virus with 2,500 people quarantined and 1,800 schools closed as of June 9, 2015. (Photo by Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images) (credit:Chung Sung-Jun via Getty Images)
South Korea MERS(06 of28)
Philippines tourists wear masks as a precaution against the MERS, Middle East Respiratory Syndrome, virus on a subway train in Seoul, South Korea, Sunday, June 7, 2015. A fifth person in the country has died of the MERS virus, as the government announced Sunday it was strengthening measures to stem the spread of the disease and public fear. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
South Korea MERS(07 of28)
Hospital workers wear masks as a precaution against the MERS, Middle East Respiratory Syndrome, virus as they work in front of an emergency room of Samsung Medical Center in Seoul, South Korea, Sunday, June 7, 2015. A fifth person in South Korea has died of the MERS virus, as the government announced Sunday it was strengthening measures to stem the spread of the disease and public fear.(AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
South Korea MERS(08 of28)
A tourist wears mask as a precaution against MERS, Middle East Respiratory Syndrome, virus at the Gyeongbok Palace, one of South Korea\'s well-known landmarks, in Seoul, South Korea, Sunday, June 7, 2015. A fifth person in the country has died of the MERS virus, as the government announced Sunday it was strengthening measures to stem the spread of the disease and public fear. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
South Korea MERS(09 of28)
Tourists wear masks as a precaution against MERS, Middle East Respiratory Syndrome, virus as they visit Gyeongbok Palace, one of South Korea\'s well-known landmarks, in Seoul, South Korea, Sunday, June 7, 2015. A fifth person in the country has died of the MERS virus, as the government announced Sunday it was strengthening measures to stem the spread of the disease and public fear. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
South Korea MERS(10 of28)
A passenger wears a mask as a precaution against the MERS, Middle East Respiratory Syndrome, virus on a subway train in Seoul, South Korea, Sunday, June 7, 2015. A fifth person in South Korea has died of the MERS virus, as the government announced Sunday it was strengthening measures to stem the spread of the disease and public fear.(AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
South Korea China MERS(11 of28)
South Korean Health and Welfare Minister Moon Hyung-pyo, left, speaks during a press conference to announce how to further prevent the spread of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) at the government complex in Seoul, South Korea, Sunday, May 31, 2015. China on Friday confirmed its first case of MERS in a South Korean businessman who ignored instructions to stay home after his father was diagnosed with the disease. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
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(13 of28)
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South Korea MERS Virus(16 of28)
A man helps a patient to wear a mask as a precaution against the possible MERS, Middle East Respiratory Syndrome, virus in front of a facility to examine temporarily quarantined people who could be infected with the MERS virus at Seoul National University Hospital in Seoul, South Korea Monday, June 1, 2015. More than 680 people in South Korea are isolated after having contact with patients infected with the virus that has killed hundreds of people in the Middle East, health officials said Monday.(AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
SKOREA-HEALTH-MERS(17 of28)
A man wearing a face mask walks outside the Gyeongbokgung palace in Seoul on June 1, 2015. South Korean President Park Geun-Hye scolded health officials over their \'insufficient\' response to an outbreak of the MERS virus, as the number of infections climbed to 18, with nearly 700 under observation. AFP PHOTO / Ed Jones (Photo credit should read ED JONES/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:ED JONES via Getty Images)
SKOREA-HEALTH-MERS(18 of28)
A man wearing a face mask walks through a market in Seoul on June 1, 2015. South Korean President Park Geun-Hye scolded health officials over their \'insufficient\' response to an outbreak of the MERS virus, as the number of infections climbed to 18, with nearly 700 under observation. AFP PHOTO / Ed Jones (Photo credit should read ED JONES/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:ED JONES via Getty Images)
SKOREA-HEALTH-MERS(19 of28)
South Korean hospital workers set a separated emergency center for MERS cases at the National Medical Center in Seoul on June 1, 2015. South Korean President Park Geun-Hye scolded health officials on June 1, over their response to an outbreak of the MERS virus, as the number of infections climbed to 18, with nearly 700 under observation. Major South Korean hospitals are setting up special MERS clinic rooms to fight the disease. AFP PHOTO / JUNG YEON-JE (Photo credit should read JUNG YEON-JE/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:JUNG YEON-JE via Getty Images)
South Korea MERS Virus(20 of28)
South Koreans wearing masks as a precaution against the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome virus sit at an emergency room at Seoul National University Hospital in Seoul, South Korea Monday, June 1, 2015. More than 680 people in South Korea are isolated after having contact with patients infected with a virus that has killed hundreds of people in the Middle East, health officials said Monday. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
South Korea MERS Virus(21 of28)
A patient wearing a mask as a precaution against the MERS, Middle East Respiratory Syndrome, virus walks by a facility to examine temporarily quarantined people who could be infected with the MERS virus at Seoul National University Hospital in Seoul, South Korea Monday, June 1, 2015. More than 680 people in South Korea are isolated after having contact with patients infected with the virus that has killed hundreds of people in the Middle East, health officials said Monday. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
South Korea China MERS(22 of28)
South Korean Health and Welfare Minister Moon Hyung-pyo speaks during a press conference to announce how to further prevent the spread of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) at the government complex in Seoul, South Korea, Sunday, May 31, 2015. China on Friday confirmed its first case of MERS in a South Korean businessman who ignored instructions to stay home after his father was diagnosed with the disease. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
South Korea China MERS(23 of28)
South Korean Health and Welfare Minister Moon Hyung-pyo, left, speaks during a press conference to announce how to further prevent the spread of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) at the government complex in Seoul, South Korea, Sunday, May 31, 2015. China on Friday confirmed its first case of MERS in a South Korean businessman who ignored instructions to stay home after his father was diagnosed with the disease. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
SKOREA-HEALTH-MERS(24 of28)
A South Korean hospital worker wearing a mask stands in front of a public notice on MERS while setting up a separated emergency center at the National Medical Center in Seoul on June 1, 2015. South Korean President Park Geun-Hye scolded health officials on June 1, over their response to an outbreak of the MERS virus, as the number of infections climbed to 18, with nearly 700 under observation. Major South Korean hospitals are setting up special MERS clinic rooms to fight the disease. AFP PHOTO / JUNG YEON-JE (Photo credit should read JUNG YEON-JE/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:JUNG YEON-JE via Getty Images)
SKOREA-HEALTH-MERS(25 of28)
South Korean hospital workers wearing masks stand in front of a public notice on MERS while setting up a separated emergency center at the National Medical Center in Seoul on June 1, 2015. South Korean President Park Geun-Hye scolded health officials on June 1, over their response to an outbreak of the MERS virus, as the number of infections climbed to 18, with nearly 700 under observation. Major South Korean hospitals are setting up special MERS clinic rooms to fight the disease. AFP PHOTO / JUNG YEON-JE (Photo credit should read JUNG YEON-JE/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:JUNG YEON-JE via Getty Images)
SKOREA-HEALTH-MERS(26 of28)
South Korean rescue members carry a woman in front of a public notice on MERS at the National Medical Center in Seoul on June 1, 2015. South Korean President Park Geun-Hye scolded health officials on June 1, over their response to an outbreak of the MERS virus, as the number of infections climbed to 18, with nearly 700 under observation. Major South Korean hospitals are setting up special MERS clinic rooms to fight the disease. AFP PHOTO / JUNG YEON-JE (Photo credit should read JUNG YEON-JE/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:JUNG YEON-JE via Getty Images)
SKOREA-HEALTH-MERS(27 of28)
South Korean hospital workers wearing masks stand in front of a public notice on MERS while setting up a separated emergency center at the National Medical Center in Seoul on June 1, 2015. South Korean President Park Geun-Hye scolded health officials on June 1, over their response to an outbreak of the MERS virus, as the number of infections climbed to 18, with nearly 700 under observation. Major South Korean hospitals are setting up special MERS clinic rooms to fight the disease. AFP PHOTO / JUNG YEON-JE (Photo credit should read JUNG YEON-JE/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:JUNG YEON-JE via Getty Images)
SKOREA-HEALTH-MERS(28 of28)
South Korean hospital workers set a separated emergency center for MERS cases at the National Medical Center in Seoul on June 1, 2015. South Korean President Park Geun-Hye scolded health officials on June 1, over their response to an outbreak of the MERS virus, as the number of infections climbed to 18, with nearly 700 under observation. Major South Korean hospitals are setting up special MERS clinic rooms to fight the disease. AFP PHOTO / JUNG YEON-JE (Photo credit should read JUNG YEON-JE/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:JUNG YEON-JE via Getty Images)
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