As the world still struggles to cope with challenges posed by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and its after-effects, the sudden increase in monkey-pox cases emerged as another scare. Now, North Korea said Friday (June 17) that hundreds of families have fallen ill with an “unidentified” intestinal disease. The situation will put immense pressure on the healthcare system of the country which is already strained by Covid.
Kim Yo Jong, Kim Jong Un’s sister, was one of a group of senior officials who reportedly personally donated medicine to try and help. This is a possible sign of the seriousness of the situation.
The state media KCNA reported Friday that medicines will be delivered to “over 800 families suffering from the acute epidemic which broke out in some areas of South Hwanghae Province.” The report didn’t mention what kind of medicines.
As per the report, at least 1,600 people have been infected with the enteric disease. The reports have sparked speculation that the unspecified disease may be cholera or typhoid. In case it is confirmed, the outbreak could worsen the country’s chronic food shortages because South Hwanghae province is one of North Korea’s main agricultural regions.
Also Read: Monkeypox: WHO Lists 5 Measures to control human-to-human transmission
