S Korean gov't raises A/H1N1 flu alert level to highest

South Korea has raised its A/H1N1 flu alert level to its maximum, as the pandemic has now killed at least 42 people in the country. The Ministry for Health, Welfare and Family Affairs explained the move is to urge people to pay closer attention to the issue.

As part of the government's efforts to fight against the rapid spread of the virus, it will impose travel restrictions, cancel large-scale events and speed up the testing process.

It also said it would launch the country's first central anti-disaster headquarters to deal with the disease. The nation's highest level of the four-tier alert system is declared if a virus is spreading rapidly among the general population and requires immediate action by authorities.