ID :
60450
Wed, 05/13/2009 - 17:26
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/60450
The shortlink copeid
S. Korea to isolate suspected flu cases at airports
SEOUL, May 13 (Yonhap) -- South Korea will quarantine inbound travelers showing
symptoms of type-A influenza at airports to better prevent the spread of the
illness that has so-far hit 33 countries, the government said Wednesday.
People showing signs of the H1N1 virus will be required to stay at special
facilities for testing and observation, the Korea Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (KCDC) said, adding the move is similar to measures taken by Japan and
China to contain the person-to-person spread of the disease.
"International flights landing in the country will be required to report people
showing symptoms of the flu, and government health officials and a medical doctor
will board the plane to conduct preliminary examinations," a KCDC official said.
Planes carrying passengers from 29 countries, including those from the United
States, Mexico, Canada, Spain and Britain, will undergo the most scrutiny.
He added people showing distinct signs of the flu, such as fever, coughing, nasal
congestion and headache, will be sent to the holding area along with those who
were within a 2-meter radius of the suspected passenger.
The official added that South Korea will introduce RT-PCR test systems starting
next week to quickly determine if a person may have caught the new type of flu.
The new screening process takes about six hours for authorities to gauge if a
person may have been infected, compared with the 3-4 days required using
conventional methods.
Those that test positive for the preliminary influenza screening process will
undergo more a detailed examination that can take up to five days.
The agency, under the health ministry, said despite the worldwide spread of the
influenza, no "probable case" has been found in the country since May 3.
A total of three confirmed cases have been reported by the KCDC, with 45
currently being screened out of 373 that showed some symptoms.
The World Health Organization said earlier in the day that there were 5,885
confirmed case of the type-A flu worldwide, with 63 deaths attributed to the
disease so far.
Of the deaths, 58 occurred in Mexico, followed by three in the United States and
one each in Canada and Costa Rica.
yonngong@yna.co.kr
(END)
symptoms of type-A influenza at airports to better prevent the spread of the
illness that has so-far hit 33 countries, the government said Wednesday.
People showing signs of the H1N1 virus will be required to stay at special
facilities for testing and observation, the Korea Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (KCDC) said, adding the move is similar to measures taken by Japan and
China to contain the person-to-person spread of the disease.
"International flights landing in the country will be required to report people
showing symptoms of the flu, and government health officials and a medical doctor
will board the plane to conduct preliminary examinations," a KCDC official said.
Planes carrying passengers from 29 countries, including those from the United
States, Mexico, Canada, Spain and Britain, will undergo the most scrutiny.
He added people showing distinct signs of the flu, such as fever, coughing, nasal
congestion and headache, will be sent to the holding area along with those who
were within a 2-meter radius of the suspected passenger.
The official added that South Korea will introduce RT-PCR test systems starting
next week to quickly determine if a person may have caught the new type of flu.
The new screening process takes about six hours for authorities to gauge if a
person may have been infected, compared with the 3-4 days required using
conventional methods.
Those that test positive for the preliminary influenza screening process will
undergo more a detailed examination that can take up to five days.
The agency, under the health ministry, said despite the worldwide spread of the
influenza, no "probable case" has been found in the country since May 3.
A total of three confirmed cases have been reported by the KCDC, with 45
currently being screened out of 373 that showed some symptoms.
The World Health Organization said earlier in the day that there were 5,885
confirmed case of the type-A flu worldwide, with 63 deaths attributed to the
disease so far.
Of the deaths, 58 occurred in Mexico, followed by three in the United States and
one each in Canada and Costa Rica.
yonngong@yna.co.kr
(END)
