[A summarized unofficial version of the press release]





KDCA reinforces

aircraft sanitation inspections from July



- The pilot inspection results reveal that pathogens were detected on 222 out of a total of 1,702 aircraft.

- The agency will gradually step up aircraft sanitation inspections starting July 29.



Osong, 29th July 2024 – The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KCDA), announced that aircraft sanitation inspections were conducted on a pilot basis, focusing on aircraft operating on international routes for 11 months from July 31, 2023 to June 30, 2024. According to the results, waterborne and foodborne pathogens* were detected on 222 out of a total of 1,702 aircraft inspected (13.04%).


by waterborne and foodborne pathogen>

ETEC: 178, EPEC: 126, Salmonella spp.: 19, EHEC: 13, EIEC: 6, V. parahaemolyticus: 6, Shigella spp.: 2



Aircraft sanitation inspections are conducted by quarantine officers immediately after an aircraft lands to check the sanitary and environmental condition of the aircraft cabin. The inspections aim to achieve high standards of aircraft sanitation to protect inbound and outbound travelers engaged in air transport.



As we have returned to normalcy after the COVID-19 pandemic, the aircraft sanitation inspections, which had been temporarily suspended for the past three years, resumed on a pilot basis starting July 31, 2023. As a follow-up measure of the pilot inspection, airliners are required to disinfect the 222 aircraft where pathogens were detected.

* After the aircraft sanitation inspection had been temporarily exempted for the last three years since January 27, 2020, it resumed on July 31, 2023.