A case series of flight attendants at risk of COVID-19 in South Korea in 2020.

Ann Occup Environ Med

Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Kangbuk Samsung Hospital, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.

Published: January 2021

AI Article Synopsis

  • COVID-19 has spread globally, posing risks for individuals, particularly those working in close contact with others, like flight attendants.
  • Two flight attendants were diagnosed with COVID-19 after sharing a crew area and transportation, highlighting the risks they face on the job.
  • There is a need for stronger biosafety guidelines for air crews and better monitoring systems for high-risk workers to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission.

Article Abstract

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has infected many individuals worldwide. Individuals in contact with unspecified people during their work, may be at risk of occupational exposure. On June 22, 2020, 1,435 overseas patients were identified in the Republic of Korea. Considering the influx of overseas patients, aircraft-mediated COVID-19 transmission is a major concern.

Case Presentation: We presented two flight attendants diagnosed with COVID-19 who shared the crew's resting area and ground transportation, and discussed the risks experienced by flight attendants.

Conclusions: Biosafety guidelines for cabin crews should be intensified, and their COVID-19 risks must be further investigated. Policymakers must consider comprehensive surveillance systems for workers with high risks of occupational exposures and transmissions, such as flight attendants.

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Source
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7952778PMC
http://dx.doi.org/10.35371/aoem.2021.33.e1DOI Listing

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