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Key news on indoor air, health and infectious disease.
Indoor Air & Health News
Indoor air and health:
what’s changing now
From respiratory infection outbreaks to indoor air regulations — key news on managing the air in spaces where people come and go. Articles are from Korean media.
Korea issues flu epidemic advisory two months earlier than usual
The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency issued a flu epidemic advisory on 11 September. Flu-like cases reached 13.3 per 1,000 outpatients, more than double the same period last year (6.4). Entrance hygiene and indoor air management in crowded spaces matter once again.
Read original (Korean) ↗Flu-like illness (per 1,000 outpatients)
Source: KDCA (reported by Seoul Shinmun)
Prepare for respiratory infection season
Where people gather,
start at the entrance
Infections come in through the door with people. AIR SIGNATURE removes dust and airborne particles with an air shower at the moment of entry and keeps indoor air managed with purification and sterilization.
* Based on KTL test reports (KOUVA AS 02:2023). The airborne bacteria reduction rate was measured with a standard test organism (S. epidermidis) and does not imply prevention or treatment of any specific infectious disease.
Death from unexplained pneumonia (suspected pneumonic plague) in Russia — Korea steps up border surveillance
The KDCA held a situation review and stepped up surveillance of travelers from Russia with fever or respiratory symptoms. The pathogen has not been confirmed, and domestic risk is currently assessed as ‘low’.
Read original (Korean) ↗43% of children’s activity spaces exceed limits for hazardous substances or air quality
1,084 of 2,509 inspected sites exceeded limits — a more than thirteen-fold increase in five years.
Read original (Korean) ↗Flu and COVID-19 rise together, raising ‘twindemic’ concerns
Over four weeks, flu cases roughly tripled and COVID-19 hospitalizations rose about tenfold, raising fears of a simultaneous outbreak.
Read original (Korean) ↗Seoul district makes daycare air quality ‘visible’
Seoul’s Yangcheon district will fund 31 more daycare centers this year to measure fine dust and CO₂ in real time with IoT sensors.
Read original (Korean) ↗Mandatory submission of indoor air measurements proposed
Multi-use facilities will have to submit measurement results to a national information network, with fines for missing or false reports. Scheduled to take effect in January 2027.
Read original (Korean) ↗Measles outbreaks in North America — caution against imported cases
With measles outbreaks in Mexico (26,087 cases) and the US (1,952), travelers are advised to check vaccination status and watch for symptoms after returning.
Read original (Korean) ↗Korea launches ‘excellent indoor air facility’ designation
Facilities that manage PM2.5 and CO₂ in real time can be designated ‘excellent’ and exempted from annual measurement and manager training.
Read original (Korean) ↗Korea Testing Laboratory designated as an Indoor Environment Management Center
Korea’s Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment designated KTL as its third Indoor Environment Management Center to strengthen industry support and training.
Read original (Korean) ↗PM2.5 standard tightened to 40 ㎍/㎥ for some multi-use facilities
The indoor PM2.5 standard for libraries, museums, galleries, large stores and private academies was tightened from 50 to 40 ㎍/㎥.
Read original (Korean) ↗
* Each item links to the original article (in Korean). Copyright belongs to the respective publisher.