WHO to hold meeting on economy class syndrome next month

The U.N. will hold a conference next month on so-called economy class syndrome, from which several passengers in economy class seats on long-haul flights have died.

The World Health Organization (WHO) announced Thursday that it would hold the first ever international conference on economy class syndrome in March. Participants will include seven or eight scientists who are studying the syndrome, 13 representatives from major airline companies and delegates from related private organizations, including the International Air Transport Association (IATA), according to an Associated Press report. Economy class syndrome can create blood clots that can sometimes lead to death among those confined to narrow airplane seats for extended lengths of time.

British health authorities recently announced that an average of one person a month in Britain dies as a result of economy class syndrome. In Japan, 25 people who took flights out of Tokyo`s Narita Airport died of the illness in the past eight years, according to a report.

Last month, family members of those who died after suffering economy class syndrome filed for compensation against large airline companies. Related to this, major airline companies are working out countermeasures, including the distribution of leaflets containing a warning of the dangers posed by the syndrome.

Chung Mi-Kyoung mickey@donga.com