BACKGROUND: International Health Regulations controls international travel including human movement, disease vector, and imported items to prevent the spread of dengue, especially in seaports, airports, and border crossing posts. This study aimed to determine dengue Transovarial Transmission Index (TTI) and distribution of dengue virus in the areas around Adisucipto Airport of Yogyakarta, Indonesia. METHODS: The study was a descriptive analytic study with cross sectional design, conducted by mapping the spread of the dengue virus and identifying TTI in Adisucipto Airport. A total of 145 ovitraps were installed in both perimeter and buffer areas of the airport. Positive Ovitrap Index (OI), TTI, and serotype of dengue virus were examined. The TTI was identified using immunocytochemistry immunoperoxidase streptavidin biotin complex (IISBC) method in mosquito head squash preparations. RESULTS: OI in the buffer area was 32 (45.1%), whereas OI in the perimeter area was 24 (32.4%). The TTI in the buffer and perimeter areas were 21 (18.3%) and 11 (18.9%), respectively. The TTI was found greater in the Aedes aegypti population compared to the Aedes albopictus population, both in the perimeter area (20% versus 16.7%) and the buffer area (20.3% versus 16.1%). Dengue virus serotype-2 (DENV-2) and dengue virus serotype-3 (DENV-3) were predominantly found in Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus. CONCLUSIONS Buffer areas of Adisucipto Airport of Yogyakarta have higher risk as breeding sites for Aedes spp., predominantly DENV-2 and DENV-3 serotypes. High OI shows that the areas are likely to have higher risk of developing dengue outbreak.
Aedes ; virology ; Air Travel ; Airports ; Animals ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Dengue ; transmission ; virology ; Dengue Virus ; classification ; isolation & purification ; Female ; Indonesia ; Mosquito Vectors ; virology ; Ovum ; virology ; Serotyping

BACKGROUND: Joint replacement surgery is having an increasing demand as national healthcare systems confront an ever ageing population. Surgical complications associated with lower limb arthroplasty are well known but less investigation has been performed examining its effect on air travel, more specifically, unwanted and significant inconvenience caused to travelers going through airport security. METHODS: In lower limb arthroplasty clinics, 50 patients who met our selection criteria were given questionnaires. Ten airport security officers from 4 international airports (London Stansted, London Gatwick, London Heathrow, and Amsterdam Schiphol International Airport) were also given a separate questionnaire. The opinion of the Civil Aviation Authority was also sought. RESULTS: All 50 patients (mean age, 70.4 years; range, 55 to 84 years) who were presenting in lower limb arthroplasty clinics and who met our selection criteria volunteered to enter the study. Twenty-eight of these patients were female (mean age, 69.1 years; range, 55 to 84 years) and 22 were male (mean age, 71.2 years; range, 58 to 81 years). Of the patients, 14% stated that their joint replacements did not set off the airport security alarm. Responses were received from 10 airport security officers as well. Six airport security officers were male and 4 were female. All of the airport officers were aware of some form of implant identification card with 90% stating that these were useful to them at airport security. Eight-four percent of the patients stated that an implant identification card outlining what joint replacement they possessed and when this had been done would be very useful. Sixteen percent of the patients did not think a card would be beneficial since all of them had set off the airport alarm system only once or less in their lifetime. CONCLUSIONS: It is the opinion of airport security officers and patients that joint replacement implant identification cards streamline airport security checks and decrease the need for more invasive searches at airport security.
Airports* ; Arthroplasty ; Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee ; Aviation ; Delivery of Health Care ; Female ; Humans ; Joints ; Lower Extremity ; Male ; Patient Selection ; Security Measures

BACKGROUND: Aircraft noise is a major environmental noise problem. This study was conducted in order to investigate the relationship between sleep disturbance and exposure to aircraft noise on the residents who are living near an airport. METHODS: There were 3308 residents (1403 in the high exposure group, 1428 in the low exposure group, and 477 in the non-exposure group) selected as the subjects for this study. The Insomnia severity Index (ISI) and Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) questionnaires were used to evaluate sleep disturbance. RESULTS: The mean ISI and ESS scores were 6.9 ± 6.4 and 5.5 ± 3.7, respectively, and the average scores were significantly greater in the aircraft noise exposure group, as compared to the non-exposure group. The percentage of the abnormal subjects, which were classified according to the results of the ISI and ESS, was also significantly greater in the noise exposure group, as compared to the control group. The odd ratios for insomnia and daytime hypersomnia were approximately 3 times higher in the noise exposure group, as compared to the control group. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of insomnia and daytime hypersomnia was higher in the aircraft noise exposure group, as compared to the control group. Further study is deemed necessary in order to clarify the causal relationship.
Aircraft* ; Airports* ; Cross-Sectional Studies* ; Disorders of Excessive Somnolence ; Noise* ; Prevalence ; Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this research was to measure fever prevalence and the effectiveness of a fever screening procedure in detecting febrile arrivals at an international airport in Korea. METHODS: Data were retrieved from arrivals' health declaration forms and questionnaires for febrile arrivals at an international airport collected by a national quarantine station during the year 2012. Self-reported health declaration forms were returned by 355,887 arrivals (61% of the total arrivals). Of these, 608 symptomatic arrivals (0.2%) including 6 febrile arrivals were analyzed. RESULTS: Fever prevalence at an international airport in Korea was 0.002%. Self-reported fever was significantly positively associated with tympanic temperature (p<0.001). The difference between the thermal camera temperature (36.83degreesC) and tympanic (or ear) temperature (38.14degreesC) was not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: The findings imply that a procedure for mass detection of fever such as self-reported questionnaires and thermal camera scanning may serve as an effective tool for detecting febrile arrivals at quarantine stations. Future research can benefit from looking at the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of the entry screening system.
Airports* ; Body Temperature ; Fever* ; Hospitals, Isolation ; Korea ; Mass Screening* ; Prevalence ; Quarantine ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Surveys and Questionnaires

There have been few studies investigating the differences in the perception of facial attractiveness according to gender, races and ethnicity. This study was conducted to determine whether different races or genders show actual differences in the perception of beauty. Using 5 composite faces of different races, this survey was designed on 486 participants from different races and ethnicities. Photographs of the composite faces were displayed on a large poster at Incheon International Airport and passersby were asked to take part in the survey regarding which composite face was the most attractive. Data were statistically analyzed to determine differences in beauty perception in terms of gender, race and ethnicity. There were significant differences in the perception of the most attractive face and the least attractive face according to gender. There were significant differences in the perception of the most and least attractive face according to race. Multivariate analysis also revealed that there were different perceptions of facial attractiveness according to ethnic backgrounds. The results of this study suggest that the perception of facial attractiveness may differ according to gender, race and ethnicity, and that some unique or peculiar patterns of beauty perception may exist.
Airports ; Beauty ; Continental Population Groups ; Gender Identity ; Humans ; Multivariate Analysis ; Population Groups

OBJECTIVES: This study was conducted to investigate the effects of aircraft noise exposure on children's mental health problems such as depression and personality. METHODS: We obtained data from the health examinations of school children in the vicinity of Gunsan airport. This survey was conducted in the rural area, Gunsan during 2009. The study population included 195 children attending 4th to 6th grade from 6 elementary schools near the airport. Based on 60 Weighted Equivalent Continuous Perceived Noise Level (WECPNL) measures of aircraft noise, participants were divided into 2 groups; the exposure group consisted of 106 children from 4 schools, and the reference group included 89 children from the 2 schools in Gunsan. All children completed questions on general characteristics, the Korean Children's Depression Inventory (KCDI) for depression, and the Korea Human Nature Inspection (KHNI) for personality. RESULTS: Children in the exposure group were at higher risk of depression (5.62, 95% CI 1.12~28.25), and personality changes (2.08, 95% CI 1.07~4.05) than those of the reference group. In particular, children's diligence, cooperation, and concentration, subgroups of personality measure, were affected significantly and negatively, by aircraft noise level. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that exposure to aircraft noise at school is associated with mental health problems in children. Requirements should be implemented to manage aircraft noise of its affect on children's health.
Aircraft ; Airports ; Child ; Depression ; Health Surveys ; Human Characteristics ; Humans ; Korea ; Mental Health ; Noise

BACKGROUND: The incidence of infectious diarrheal disease in Korea has decreased over the past decade, but traveler's diarrhea (TD) is increasing in frequency. We therefore investigated the distribution of the causative agents of TD. METHODS: A total of 132 rectal swab specimens were acquired from TD patients who entered the country via Gimhae International Airport. The specimens were screened for 12 bacterial pathogens by real-time PCR, and target pathogens were isolated from the PCR positive specimens using conventional microbiological isolation methods. RESULTS: A total of 93 specimens (70.5%) showed positive PCR screening results, and of these specimens, nine species and 50 isolates (37.9%), including Vibrio parahaemolyticus (18 isolates) and ETEC (17 isolates), were isolated. No specimens were PCR positive for Listeria monocytogenes or Campylobacter jejuni, and no pathogenic Bacillus cereus were isolated. CONCLUSION: Even though viruses and EAEC were not included as target pathogens, the high isolation rate of these pathogens in this study provides indirect evidence that most cases of pathogen-negative TD are caused by undetected bacterial agents. Furthermore, our study results confirm the effectiveness of real-time PCR-based screening methods. This study is the first report in Korea to demonstrate that ETEC and V. parahaemolyticus are the major causative pathogens of TD, and this knowledge can be used to help treat and prevent TD.
Airports ; Bacillus cereus ; Campylobacter jejuni ; Diarrhea ; Dysentery ; Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli ; Humans ; Incidence ; Korea ; Listeria monocytogenes ; Mass Screening ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Vibrio parahaemolyticus

With a steady economic growth and the advancement of aircraft design, the demand to travel by air has constantly been on the rise. So much to the fact that there are more than 10 billion people traveling all over the world by aircraft. This demand will continue to rise so long as air travel continues to surpass other methods of transportation in aspects such as speed, comfort, safety, etc. There are about seven million tourists who travel abroad annually in our nation, thus airline travel has become one of the most popular forms of public transport. However, some people travel on flights without considering their state of health and risk suffering from a health ailment while on board. The cabin environment of a modernized aircraft preserves conditions similar to that on the ground, thereby making the travelers feel comfortable. But sometimes people with chronic diseases can make their health condition worse due to long distance flight travel. Traveling overseas among the elder generation has increased, and cases involving patients traveling abroad to receive better medical treatment has increased as well. In advanced countries, the air ambulance system is well prepared, but in Korea we can only transfer patients by commercial airlines based on the destination. This is especially typical in Jeju where there are no alternative ways. Helping an emergency patient inside the cabin is not a simple matter, and therefore it is best to avoid the situation. To be prepared for emergencies, each aircraft has an Emergency Medical Kit, First Aid Kit and Automated External Defibrillator (AED) inside the cabin. Each airline is also developing curriculums for teaching First Aid and training their flight attendants to properly use the Kit, AED and how to give First Aid. If there is a patient with a critical illness, generally the aircraft would land at the closest airport instead of the destination in an attempt to save the precious life. But, it would be more effective to be prepared with a contingency plan beforehand, instead of thereafter. If physicians and patients take more concerns regarding airline travel and kept in close communication with the airlines, some inflight medical emergencies in the cabin can be prevented. A patient who is planning to travel by air would want to receive some aero-medical information from their physicians. It is necessary to understand the cabin environment and to receive information on airline travel myths, the maximum amount of safe time for traveling, and steps to prepare before they leave. In this article, as a physician, I will review the medical guidelines to prevent unexpected accidents or inflight emergencies, and also to have some aviation medicine knowledge to help those on board.
Aerospace Medicine ; Air Ambulances ; Aircraft ; Airports ; Chronic Disease ; Critical Illness ; Curriculum ; Defibrillators ; Economic Development ; Emergencies ; First Aid ; Humans ; Korea ; Transportation

With a steady economic growth and the advancement of aircraft design, the demand to travel by air has constantly been on the rise. So much to the fact that there are more than 10 billion people traveling all over the world by aircraft. This demand will continue to rise so long as air travel continues to surpass other methods of transportation in aspects such as speed, comfort, safety, etc. There are about seven million tourists who travel abroad annually in our nation, thus airline travel has become one of the most popular forms of public transport. However, some people travel on flights without considering their state of health and risk suffering from a health ailment while on board. The cabin environment of a modernized aircraft preserves conditions similar to that on the ground, thereby making the travelers feel comfortable. But sometimes people with chronic diseases can make their health condition worse due to long distance flight travel. Traveling overseas among the elder generation has increased, and cases involving patients traveling abroad to receive better medical treatment has increased as well. In advanced countries, the air ambulance system is well prepared, but in Korea we can only transfer patients by commercial airlines based on the destination. This is especially typical in Jeju where there are no alternative ways. Helping an emergency patient inside the cabin is not a simple matter, and therefore it is best to avoid the situation. To be prepared for emergencies, each aircraft has an Emergency Medical Kit, First Aid Kit and Automated External Defibrillator (AED) inside the cabin. Each airline is also developing curriculums for teaching First Aid and training their flight attendants to properly use the Kit, AED and how to give First Aid. If there is a patient with a critical illness, generally the aircraft would land at the closest airport instead of the destination in an attempt to save the precious life. But, it would be more effective to be prepared with a contingency plan beforehand, instead of thereafter. If physicians and patients take more concerns regarding airline travel and kept in close communication with the airlines, some inflight medical emergencies in the cabin can be prevented. A patient who is planning to travel by air would want to receive some aero-medical information from their physicians. It is necessary to understand the cabin environment and to receive information on airline travel myths, the maximum amount of safe time for traveling, and steps to prepare before they leave. In this article, as a physician, I will review the medical guidelines to prevent unexpected accidents or inflight emergencies, and also to have some aviation medicine knowledge to help those on board.
Aerospace Medicine ; Air Ambulances ; Aircraft ; Airports ; Chronic Disease ; Critical Illness ; Curriculum ; Defibrillators ; Economic Development ; Emergencies ; First Aid ; Humans ; Korea ; Transportation

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to use a review of the regional disaster that occurred on April 15, 2002, to improve the National Disaster Medical System and to operate the Disaster Medical Assistance Team and the Mobile Emergency Support Unit better. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 39 survivors among the 167 victims of the Air China aircraft crash, Kimhae, Korea, on April 15, 2002, by using reports of the on-site disaster medical assistance team members, recordings of notifications to the Busan and the Kyoungnam 1339 Emergency Information Centers from the scene of accident, and medical records of the victims transported to hospitals. RESULTS: On the date of accident, April 15, 2002, 27 of the 39 survivors were transported to 5 hospitals in Kimhae and 12 were transported to 8 hospitals in Busan. On the next day, April 16, two patients who had been transported to hospitals in Kimhae were transferred to medical centers in Busan. One of them expired, and the other was subsequently transferred to a medical center in Seoul and expired on May 2, 2002. CONCLUSION: Still now, our National Disaster Medical System contains many problems, especially lack of cooperation between related parts, and insufficient communications. This study shows that we should recheck our National Disaster Medical Dystem and construct a cooperative Police, Fire defense organization, 1339 Emergency Medical Information Center, and regional medical service system.
Aircraft* ; Airports* ; Busan ; China* ; Disasters* ; Emergencies ; Fires ; Gyeongsangnam-do* ; Humans ; Information Centers ; Korea ; Medical Assistance ; Medical Records ; Police ; Retrospective Studies ; Seoul ; Survivors