As an outbreak of Middle Eastern Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) fails to abate in South Korea, an increasing number of ferry passengers are cancelling travel plans between Kyushu and Korea. Between June 8, when the first MERS-infected patient was detected in Pusan, and June 15, upwards of 1,400 passengers have cancelled their reservations on JR Kyushu’s incoming and outgoing high-speed ferries. There has also been an uptick in cancellations on JTB and HIS tours to Korea, and an employee from JTB Kyushu said he hopes the situation subsides before the summer travel season. In the meantime, Korean tourists are buying up face masks from local retailers and drug stores before returning home. According to the National Institute of Infectious Diseases, MERS is about half as contagious as seasonal influenza, and there is no need to wear masks in Japan at the moment. People travelling to Korea are advised to wear masks and to gargle and wash their hands thoroughly. Nishinippon Shimbun 6/16
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