Mysterious Pneumonia Attacks 31 Students At Konkuk University In Seoul; Korea Centers For Disease Control And Prevention Still Figuring Out The Cause

The Chosun Ilbo reported Oct. 29 that 21 graduate students at the Konkuk University's School of Veterinary Science in Seoul all mysteriously came down with pneumonia last week.

The patients were all master's and doctoral candidates who worked at the school's laboratory between Oct. 19 and 28. They were all sent to different state-run hospitals to be treated in isolation.

Since the incident, the school building has been closed and a group of epidemiologists were sent to the university to investigate on what may have caused the mysterious virus.

The first four students who manifested the symptoms of the illness were brought to the Konkuk University Medical Center and on Wednesday, they were transferred to the National Medical Center. The four students allegedly went to Gyeonggi Province last week for a cattle fair and also to the university-owned animal farm in Chungju, North Chungcheong Province.

One university official suspected Brucellosis, an animal infectious disease that may be spread to humans, while some health experts believe it was Q fever, which is caused by bacteria found in cattle, swine and sheep droppings.

However, Song Dae Sup from Korea University pointed out that, "Brucellosis and Q fever are not commonly found in Korea and are rarely passed on to humans," He added, "We need to look at the possibility of pneumonia caused by germs or other toxic agents."

Unfortunately, despite closing the university building and thorough disinfection on Wednesday, 10 more graduate students have been reported to contract the same mysterious pneumonia, bringing the total to 31 victims, claimed another report from The Chosun Ilbo the following day.

"We're still trying to figure out the cause," said a spokesman for the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Oct. 29.

Of the 31 patients, 23 are placed in isolation in state-run hospitals, while eight were quarantined at home as they have shown very mild symptoms. Brucellosis, Q Fever and Legionella were among the considered cases for the mysterious infection, but the 31 patients have been tested negative on all three.

They also tested negative for Mycoplasma, Chlamydia, flu and even Middle Eastern Respiratory Syndrome (MERS).

The 850 staff and students of the university were all instructed to report any suspicious health symptoms they may experience following the mysterious outbrea