Journal of Environmental Health Sciences (한국환경보건학회지)

Korean Society of Environmental Health (한국환경보건학회)
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Problems of the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Outbreak from the Perspective of Environmental Health - Focusing on Control of Indoor Air Quality in Hospitals -

환경보건학적 관점에서 본 메르스 사태의 문제점 - 병원 실내공기질 관리를 중심으로 -

  • Heo, Da-An (Department of Public Health, College of Health Science, Korea University) ;
  • Lee, Junghyun (Department of Public Health, College of Health Science, Korea University) ;
  • Huh, Eun-Hae (Department of Public Health, College of Health Science, Korea University) ;
  • Moon, Kyong Whan (Department of Health and Environmental Science, College of Health Science, Korea University)
  • 허다안 (고려대학교 보건과학대학 보건과학과) ;
  • 이정현 (고려대학교 보건과학대학 보건과학과) ;
  • 허은혜 (고려대학교 보건과학대학 보건과학과) ;
  • 문경환 (고려대학교 보건과학대학 보건환경융합과학부)
  • Received : 2015.06.28
  • Accepted : 2015.06.28
  • Published : 2015.06.28
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Abstract

Since Patient Zero of MERS was diagnosed in May 20, 2015, cases of MERS continued to grow. The current situation, which people have been confirmed to be infected, suggested that contaminated indoor air could be the potential cause of hospital-acquired infections. It is important to address the indoor air quality in hospitals because pathogens can spread through air. While the heating, ventilating and air conditioning(HVAC) system is useful managing indoor air quality in hospitals, it can transmit the pathogens if operated improperly. Therefore, it is necessary to remove contaminants in hospitals and operate the HVAC system according to the guidelines, in order to maintain clean indoor air.

Keywords

References

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Cited by

  1. Nosocomial amplification of MERS-coronavirus in South Korea, 2015 vol.111, pp.6, 2017, https://doi.org/10.1093/trstmh/trx046