North Korea revealed this week it was facing an "acute enteric
epidemic" on top of a weeks-long outbreak of COVID. It did not
elaborate what the disease was, but enteric refers to the
gastrointestinal tract.
"The officials ... prepared medicines, foodstuff and daily
necessities needed for the treatment of the epidemic and stable
life to render aid to the people in Haeju City and Kangryong
County (of South Hwanghae Province)," the Korea Central News
Agency (KCNA) said.
Leader Kim called upon officials "to fulfil their duty in the
work for easing the people's misfortune and sufferings as soon
as possible," it added.
On Thursday, an official at South Korea's Unification Ministry
handling inter-Korean affairs said Seoul is monitoring the
outbreak, suspected to be cholera or typhoid.
South Hwanghae Province is North Korea's key agricultural region
and the outbreak raised concerns may add to chronic food
shortages amid the wave of COVID-19 infections.
North Korea has been reporting patient numbers with fever
symptoms, rather than confirmed COVID cases, potentially due to
a lack of testing ability.
KCNA on Friday reported 23,160 more people with fever symptoms,
bringing the total number in the country since late April to
above 4.58 million. The death toll linked to the outbreak is at
73.
The North has said more than 99% of fever patients have
recovered and that the COVID wave has shown signs of subsiding,
but the World Health Organization cast doubts on Pyongyang's
claims earlier this month, saying it believes the situation is
getting worse.
(Reporting by Joori Roh; Editing by Lincoln Feast.)
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