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dairyairy
Joined: 17 May 2012
Location: South Korea
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 Posted: Sun Jan 13, 2013 2:01 am Post subject: Flu crisis:Ill foreigners being tested at the airport |
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If you remember a few years ago when H1N1 flu was making the rounds there were cases of airline passengers being quarantined at the airports. Well, it's happening again as many countries are experiencing record influenza outbreaks. If you do travel overseas take care of yourself, and don't be surprised when you are tested at the airport upon your arrival in Korea.
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2013/01/116_128768.html
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Airport officials are strengthening quarantine checks on passengers on international flights from the United States, Japan and other countries to protect the country from a deadly flu epidemic.
Korean health authorities also reported an increasing number of influenza patients, but the virus here differs from that in other countries, they said.
Currently the one sweeping the U.S. is the H3N2 strain while the virus spreading in Korea is H1N1, the same type as that of the swine flu which swept the nation three years earlier, health officials said.
The Korea Center for Disease Control and Prevention said Sunday the number of patients who received treatment at hospitals for symptoms similar to the flu virus has increased from 2.8 per 1,000 patients three weeks ago to 3.7. Health authorities issue a warning of an epidemic when the figure reaches four per 1,000.
Experts say that the H1N1 flue is not expected to spread rapidly, as most citizens are immune to it due to past vaccinations.
Still, the government has advised pregnant women, the elderly and young children to make sure to be vaccinated against both the H3N2 and H1N1 viruses. It also emphasized patients showing symptoms to immediately visit the hospital.
It has also cautioned those traveling in and out of the countries hit by the flu epidemic.
�We are strengthening health checks on all passengers traveling by plane and ship in order to prevent the spread of the epidemic,� an agency official said.
Meanwhile, 47 states in the U.S. have reported widespread cases of influenza, which has claimed some 100 lives.
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Dodge7
Joined: 21 Oct 2011
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| Posted: Sun Jan 13, 2013 3:53 am Post subject: |
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| The dirty foreigners are going to infect the Korean public. Watch out! |
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cj1976
Joined: 26 Oct 2005
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| Posted: Sun Jan 13, 2013 4:11 am Post subject: |
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| I don't think they are going to test just foreigners. I assume 'passengers on international flights' includes Korean nationals. Anyway, surely this is a good thing? I don't fancy getting sick and losing money from missed work. |
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actionjackson
Joined: 30 Dec 2007
Location: Any place I'm at
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| Posted: Sun Jan 13, 2013 4:14 am Post subject: |
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| When is this supposed to take place? I just came back through the airport two days ago and I didn't see anyone being pulled aside. As a matter of fact, the health questionnaire I filled out wasn't even glanced at before the next one was collected and thrown on top. |
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lemak
Joined: 02 Jan 2011
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| Posted: Sun Jan 13, 2013 4:55 am Post subject: |
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'Tis the season. There have been a couple of H1N1 deaths in Beijing since Christmas or so. Some people in the health industry are claiming that it may have mutated enough in the past year that the vaccinations many people received in 2009 or so may not be so effective this time around.
The Koreans called it the equivilent of "New Flu" last time. Wonder what they'll be naming it this time. "New New Flu"? "Newer Flu"? |
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highstreet
Joined: 13 Nov 2010
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| Posted: Sun Jan 13, 2013 5:03 am Post subject: |
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Nice job with the sensationalist headline  |
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Drew345
Joined: 24 May 2005
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| Posted: Sun Jan 13, 2013 6:38 am Post subject: |
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I sat in front of someone coughing and sneezing the whole way last week (was only a 2 hour flight). I wish they would check people BEFORE boarding.
People with the flu, when they cough and sneeze, should use a blanket or something to cover their mouth. No sympathy here, they're risking other peoples health by flying . If they cover their coughs really well, then I have no issues.
(I didn't catch anything luckily.) |
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lemak
Joined: 02 Jan 2011
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| Posted: Sun Jan 13, 2013 10:10 am Post subject: |
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| Drew345 wrote: |
| If they cover their coughs really well, then I have no issues. |
Plane ride back to Korea + People covering their coughs really well = pigs flying. |
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ttompatz
Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Location: Kwangju, South Korea
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| Posted: Sun Jan 13, 2013 2:48 pm Post subject: |
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| actionjackson wrote: |
| When is this supposed to take place? I just came back through the airport two days ago and I didn't see anyone being pulled aside. As a matter of fact, the health questionnaire I filled out wasn't even glanced at before the next one was collected and thrown on top. |
Flew a bunch between Nov and new years and the thermal scanners were up in ICN, BKK, TPE, and HKG for sure. Anyone with a high fever would be pulled out.
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Steelrails
Joined: 12 Mar 2009
Location: Earth, Solar System
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| Posted: Sun Jan 13, 2013 3:13 pm Post subject: |
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| The dirty foreigners are going to infect the Korean public. Watch out! |
Uhhhh...you do realize this is standard procedure everywhere, right? It's part of an international agreement to try and prevent the spread of illnesses.
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| If they cover their coughs really well, then I have no issues. |
Covering your mouth isn't some magic illness prevention technique. While its polite and beats getting coughed on, it really isn't doing anything. It's like wearing a surgical mask while walking around town sick- It's mostly for show. |
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Zyzyfer
Joined: 29 Jan 2003
Location: who, what, where, when, why, how?
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| Posted: Sun Jan 13, 2013 6:33 pm Post subject: |
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| lemak wrote: |
| The Koreans called it the equivilent of "New Flu" last time. Wonder what they'll be naming it this time. "New New Flu"? "Newer Flu"? |
Newed flu? Newing flu? |
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Mr. BlackCat
Joined: 30 Nov 2005
Location: Insert witty remark HERE
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| Posted: Sun Jan 13, 2013 6:37 pm Post subject: |
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When H1N1 was making the rounds a few years back I visited my home for a few weeks. Upon my return, all foreigners were herded from the line exiting the plane and checked thoroughly while the Koreans were free to be on their way. Then, SMOE put out an order that any foreign teachers who left the country over the break had to self-quarantine at home for a week. Koreans teachers who went overseas? Totally fine. Just the foreign teachers (not that it was a problem-an extra week vacation!). I don't think this happens in other countries, at least not educated developed countries.
Just like how I have to have a chest x-ray each year to check for TB while my CT who sits right next to me and breaths the same air for all 365 days does not. |
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dairyairy
Joined: 17 May 2012
Location: South Korea
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| Posted: Sun Jan 13, 2013 6:53 pm Post subject: |
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| Steelrails wrote: |
| Quote: |
| The dirty foreigners are going to infect the Korean public. Watch out! |
Uhhhh...you do realize this is standard procedure everywhere, right? It's part of an international agreement to try and prevent the spread of illnesses.
| Quote: |
| If they cover their coughs really well, then I have no issues. |
Covering your mouth isn't some magic illness prevention technique. While its polite and beats getting coughed on, it really isn't doing anything. It's like wearing a surgical mask while walking around town sick- It's mostly for show. |
Sorry Steelrails, but you are mistaken. This is directly from the CDC website.
http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/
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Influenza is thought to spread mainly person-to-person through coughing or sneezing of infected people.
Take everyday actions to stay healthy.
Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
Wash your hands often with soap and water. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand rub.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth. Germs spread that way.
Stay home if you get sick. CDC recommends that you stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them |
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Scorpion
Joined: 15 Apr 2012
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| Posted: Sun Jan 13, 2013 7:38 pm Post subject: |
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| Steelrails wrote: |
| Covering your mouth isn't some magic illness prevention technique. While its polite and beats getting coughed on, it really isn't doing anything. It's like wearing a surgical mask while walking around town sick- It's mostly for show. |
Utter nonsense. |
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Steelrails
Joined: 12 Mar 2009
Location: Earth, Solar System
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| Posted: Sun Jan 13, 2013 8:09 pm Post subject: |
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| Scorpion wrote: |
| Steelrails wrote: |
| Covering your mouth isn't some magic illness prevention technique. While its polite and beats getting coughed on, it really isn't doing anything. It's like wearing a surgical mask while walking around town sick- It's mostly for show. |
Utter nonsense. |
So you seriously believe that your hand is some sort of antiseptic? Sounds like something from the Republican Party Institute of Science.
Is it better than just coughing in the air? Yes. But your hand is not airtight, nor does it disinfect. As I said, its mostly for show.
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| Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. |
Note the key word here- a tissue. Probably some sort of antiseptic wipe. That makes sense. Acting like your bare hand is the equivalent of some some Liquid Dial soap is a crock.
Unless I'm mistaken and you would care to elaborate on the airtight and disinfectant properties of the human hand. |
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