Health and Safety Resources for GeoBlue Members in Areas Affected by Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS)

On May 20, 2015, the Republic of Korea reported their first case of MERS. Since then approximately 5,000 people have been placed under quarantine for having contact with confirmed patients. Some hospitals in South Korea are temporarily closed or have modified the services available for patients. If you are in need of care, please contact us in advance to make sure the facility you want to visit is operating normally.

GeoBlue has dedicated multilingual resources available 24/7 for members in the Republic of Korea who are in need of medical care and assistance.

+1.610.254.8771

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Please visit the GeoBlue member hub or download the GeoBlue member app to access your global benefits information and self-service member tools.

Medical Information

MERS is a respiratory illness caused by a new type of corona-virus that is similar to the one that causes Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). There is no vaccine or treatment for the disease and according to the latest figures released by the World Health Organization (WHO), the fatality rate is at 38 per cent, with older patients and those with existing respiratory and renal ailments at greater risk.

Frank Gillingham, MD, our medical director, advises that in addition to the usual precautions for avoiding and spreading viruses, such as hand washing, and covering the mouth and nose while coughing, that the following be considered to avoid contacting MERS:

Avoiding contact with individuals exhibiting symptoms of an upper respiratory infection who have traveled to the mid-East;
Staying away from large crowds in all countries where MERS has been reported, especially Saudi Arabia and Korea;
Postponing travel to the mid-East if exhibiting upper respiratory infection symptoms, as many airports in those regions screen incoming passengers and may place those with symptoms in quarantine.
Avoiding any contact with camels and bats while visiting the mid-East.

For more information follow this link to the WHO's MERS Factsheet.

Safety Information

Clients and travelers in South Korea are advised to consult with a doctor if they develop any flu-like symptoms. They should continue to monitor the local media for further advisories and other preventive measures to be implemented by health authorities. There are no indications at this time that new screening procedures would have adverse effects on flight services or lead to longer lines at the border and/or immigration facilities.