International conference on public health opened among Korea, China and Japan
– Indepth discussion on food hygiene –

Representatives of Kanagawa, Japan and Liaoning, China, and the Gyeonggi province, has gathered at the Gyeonggi Small and Medium Business Center for an international conference to discuss how to prevent diseases arising out of food poisoning.

Recently since winter, the food related diseases arising from infected meal services at school and etc., have increased.

This international conference to study food poisoning status of each region and to discuss preventions against diseases, is opened upon the approvals made prior by the 3 parties.

Having the stronger and closer communication among the 3 parties, we will be able to prevent any new types of diseases that are contagious across the border.

“About 1/5 of all the enteritis patients of the last 3 years were infected with the Noro virus, Rota virus and etc. Noro virus, which can survive in any temperature level, causes food poisoning in winter and is very contagious.”, reported by the government research.

During the 3 days of this international conference, food poisoning prevention for 3 different countries will be discussed with 40 experts from the public health centers of the local province and on the 2nd day, a presentation on case study of the ‘Virus type diseases arising out of food poisoning’ is to be provided at the Gyeonggi Institute of Health and Environment. Also, 3 participated parties will share and organize what have been discussed during the ‘Opinions Exchange Meeting’ that was opened for 3 times prior to this conference. On the last day of the conference, delegations will visit Public Health Center at Hwaseong to hear localized preventive measures implemented against food poisoning. And they will have a short tour at the Folk Village of Yongin.

This conference, which is a part of ‘International Collaboration Projects Among 3 Parties’ participated with the Sanitation Supervisory Unit of Liaoning, the Ministry of Health and Welfare of Kanagawa and etc., has been decided to be held on October 19, 2004 upon the agreement made among the provincial governor of Gyeonggi, the governor of Kanagawa, and the director of Liaoning.

This international conference on public health issues started with the prevention measures against SARS at Kanagawa in 2004, and continued with the preventive plans for AIDS and AI at Liaoning in 2006. And this is the 3rd conference to be held regarding measurements against food poisoning.