NB dispatches medical teams after hundreds of people become ill with an unusual intestinal illness
Key Takeaways:
- Hundreds more North Korean families have been diagnosed with a mystery intestinal ailment, further straining the hospital system already strained by Covid-19.
- Kim Yo Jong, Kim Jong Un's powerful sister, was said to be among a group of high-ranking officials who personally distributed medicine in an attempt to help.
- South Korea had previously offered to help North Korea fight the coronavirus outbreak by providing vaccinations and other medical supplies.
Hundreds more North Korean families have been diagnosed with an unknown intestinal disease, increasing the strains already put on the hospital system by Covid-19.
Pyongyang announced the first coronavirus cases last month, triggering "maximum emergency epidemic prevention measures," with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un leading the government's response.
Despite this, according to government figures, the virus decimated the non-vaccinated population of 25 million people, producing more than 4.5 million cases of "fever" and 73 deaths.
Adding to the country's troubles, the official KCNA claimed this week that a new "acute enteric epidemic" had broken out in South Hwanghae province, with Kim asking officials to "contain the outbreak as soon as feasible."
Kim Yo Jong, Kim Jong Un's powerful sister, was reportedly one of a group of high officials who personally gave medicine to attempt to help.
The medicine will be distributed to "nearly 800 households affected by the acute outbreak that has erupted in several sections of South Hwanghae Province," according to state news agency KCNA.
At least 1,600 people have indeed been infected with gastrointestinal disease.
According to the reports, the unidentified sickness could be cholera or typhoid.
Because South Hwanghae province is one of the country's primary agricultural regions, if confirmed, the epidemic might exacerbate the country's chronic food shortages.
Experts have warned that if Covid spreads, it will cause a huge public health disaster in the North, which has one of the poorest medical care systems in the world.
The impoverished country has ill-equipped hospitals, a scarcity of intensive care units, and no access to Covid therapy medications or mass testing.
According to the Yonhap news agency, an official from Seoul's unification ministry warned, "With the North's considerably antiquated medical infrastructure, an acute bowel sickness could flare up at any time."
According to the official, Seoul will assist the North in dealing with the fresh epidemic if Pyongyang accepts it.
South Korea had earlier volunteered to provide vaccinations and other medical supplies to North Korea to aid in the fight against the coronavirus outbreak.
Pyongyang has not replied in kind.