KCDC Uses SKT, KT, LGU+ China Entry Roaming Data
Can Track 'Wuhan Pneumonia' Infection Routes via Visitor Info
Roaming Data Proved Helpful During 2015 MERS Outbreak
KCDC: "Utilizing All Information Sources for Best Quarantine Efforts"
[Asia Economy Reporter Koo Chae-eun] It has been confirmed that roaming data of Chinese arrivals managed by the three major telecom companies?SK Telecom, KT, and LG Uplus?is being utilized to trace the infection routes of the novel coronavirus (Wuhan pneumonia). Attention is focused on whether the 'telecom big data,' which contributed to suppressing MERS in 2015, can also help prevent the spread of Wuhan pneumonia.
According to the telecom industry and health authorities on the 26th, the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) is using roaming information of Chinese arrivals provided by the three telecom companies?SK Telecom, KT, and LG Uplus?to track active surveillance targets for the quarantine infectious disease 'Wuhan pneumonia.' While only KT roaming data was used in 2015 to identify MERS infection routes, this time roaming data of Chinese arrivals from SK Telecom and LG Uplus have also been added to trace the infection routes of Wuhan pneumonia.
A senior KCDC official stated, "We are also reviewing roaming information of subscribers from the three telecom companies who entered China," adding, "Roaming has a single country code, so it does not distinguish regions such as Wuhan or Beijing within China. For now, we are utilizing telecom roaming data linked with immigration and reservation information."
Generally, the KCDC does not use telecom roaming big data every time an infectious disease occurs. For example, endemic infectious diseases that can spread widely worldwide, such as the measles outbreak early last year, are inefficient to manage by linking roaming services. However, Wuhan pneumonia is relatively localized to Wuhan, China, and the contaminated area is China, so roaming data from the three telecom companies can be helpful. In 2015, KT provided roaming big data that was used to track infected individuals during MERS, which significantly reduced confirmed cases.
Meanwhile, as of the 26th, there are 1,975 confirmed cases and 56 deaths from Wuhan pneumonia across 30 provinces in China. Among the confirmed cases, 53.3% were from Hubei Province. Accordingly, the KCDC designated the entire territory of China as a quarantine target contaminated area starting on the 28th. Currently, there are three confirmed cases domestically.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
