In a recent development on Thursday, North Korea has registered the outbreak of an intestinal epidemic which remains unidentified in medical history. The devastating outbreak has led to an even more deteriorated situation in the country as it still battles the chronic waves of Covid-19 cases and the economic recession due to it.
The leader of North Korea, Kim Jong Un, has recently sent medical aid to the city of Haeju (lies in the westernmost part of the country) In order to let the infected patients find some relief from the “acute enteric epidemic.” Talking to the national news agency KCNA, Kim Jong has offered his sympathy and support towards the people of North Korea.
The KNCA had reported that Kim Jong has laid emphasis on taking measures for containing the epidemic at the earliest. The ideal process is to begin by keeping the infected patients under medical screening in quarantine. The nature of the virus, its epidemiological examination and all concerning scientific tests will also be carried forward in order to properly be aware of the disease.
A concerned authority from the Unification Ministry of North Korea that looms after the inter-Korean affairs has recently reiterated that the government is closely scrutinizing the nature of the outbreak as well as growing cases of cholera and typhoid.
Reports state that the outbreak has occurred as the country is amidst the surge of Covid-9 cases as well the growing inflation and economic depression in the country. Acting against the rising tension, the central government had declared a state emergency in May as the fear for the lack of vaccines and other medical supplies lurk over the government.
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Reiterating his views on the matter, Shin Young-jeon, a professor at the Hanyang University’s College of Medicine in Seoul wrote, “Intestinal diseases such as typhoid and shigellosis are not particularly new in North Korea but what’s troubling is that it comes at a time when the country is already struggling from Covid-19.”
The South Hwanghae Province, where Haeju is situated, is often referred to as North Korea’s central region for agricultural sector. As the same is under the surge of the new epidemic, there have been raising concerns over dire food shortage in the country. A food shortage will lead to bulk import quantities, biding a pressure over the already dried economic resource of North Korea.
Alongside food being short, there are other issues that the new epidemic has brought in the country – water contamination, no job security, rising price of day-today activities, among many others. It is undoubtedly true that North Korea is under extreme depths now.
