Surveillance Report
Objectives: This study assessed the potential for community transmission through contact investigations of two newly reported cases of Hansen’s disease in the Chungcheong region between 2024 and 2025, and based on these findings, proposed strategies to improve contact management.
Methods: Household members and workplace contacts of patients underwent clinical examinations and phenolic glycolipid-1 (PGL-I) antibody testing through general health screening programs or integrated health services for foreign nationals. Additionally, environmental risk assessments were performed in residential and workplace settings.
Results: Of the 37 contacts, 5 were Korean nationals, and 32 were foreign nationals; 1 was a household contact, and 36 were social contacts. Two contacts (5.4%) had PGL-I antibody titers ≥200, and both were workplace contacts of patient B. The mean antibody titers did not differ significantly according to the leprosy endemicity of the contacts’ countries of origin. Epidemiological investigations indicated that the risk of workplace exposure was low, and no additional cases were identified.
Conclusions: This case arose from limited exposure rather than ongoing community transmission of Hansen’s disease from newly diagnosed patients. Given the increasing influx of foreign residents, systematic contact management strategies are necessary, including multilingual communication support during epidemiological investigations, risk-based contact investigations, and improvements to information systems for sustained follow-up.
Methods: Household members and workplace contacts of patients underwent clinical examinations and phenolic glycolipid-1 (PGL-I) antibody testing through general health screening programs or integrated health services for foreign nationals. Additionally, environmental risk assessments were performed in residential and workplace settings.
Results: Of the 37 contacts, 5 were Korean nationals, and 32 were foreign nationals; 1 was a household contact, and 36 were social contacts. Two contacts (5.4%) had PGL-I antibody titers ≥200, and both were workplace contacts of patient B. The mean antibody titers did not differ significantly according to the leprosy endemicity of the contacts’ countries of origin. Epidemiological investigations indicated that the risk of workplace exposure was low, and no additional cases were identified.
Conclusions: This case arose from limited exposure rather than ongoing community transmission of Hansen’s disease from newly diagnosed patients. Given the increasing influx of foreign residents, systematic contact management strategies are necessary, including multilingual communication support during epidemiological investigations, risk-based contact investigations, and improvements to information systems for sustained follow-up.
Public Health Weekly Report 2026; 19(14): 581-600
Surveillance Reports
Objectives: This study aimed to elucidate climate–health vulnerability in the Chungcheong region (i.e., Daejeon, Sejong, Chungcheongbuk-do, and Chungcheongnam-do) and examine in-depth analytical statistics and evidence for establishing climate–health policies and risk communication strategies at the national and regional levels.
Methods: Data derived from the Heat Injury Surveillance System by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency in 2025 were used to monitor incidents of heat injuries and heat-related illnesses in the Chungcheong region (36 municipalities). Additional analyses were conducted using meteorological and healthcare utilization data from the Korea Meteorological Administration and Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service, respectively. Regional incidence rates were calculated as the number of heat-related illness cases per 100,000 population. To visualize regional distribution, a hexagon binning (hexbin) tool was applied.
Results: In 2025, a total of 527 heat-related illness cases were reported in the Chungcheong region. Men accounted for 426 cases (80.8%), which is approximately four times higher than women (101 cases, 19.2%). The highest proportion of cases was observed for individuals aged 40–59 years (171 cases, 32.4%). The proportion of cases for individuals aged 60 years and older was 39.6%, representing a decrease of 2.2 percentage points compared with the previous year. The study noted substantial regional disparities in heat-related illness cases, ranging from 2.3 per 100,000 population in Dong-gu, Daejeon, to 49.6 per 100,000 population in Okcheon County, Chungcheongbuk-do, which corresponds to a 21.6-fold difference. In Chungcheongnam-do, the areas exhibiting the most number of cases remained consistent with those observed in the previous year, including Cheongyang County (40.9), Yesan County (25.4), and Dangjin City (23.8). In Chungcheongbuk-do, the ranking of high-incidence areas was reversed compared with the previous year, with Okcheon County (49.6), Danyang County (40.6), and Boeun County (36.2) obtaining the highest rates. Estimated heat-related deaths occurred exclusively in Chungcheongnam-do, with two deaths reported in Dangjin and one each in Cheongyang, Buyeo, and Gongju.
Conclusions: To enhance climate–health literacy and community engagement, furthering stratifying vulnerable groups at risk of heat-related illnesses and developing customized health guidance materials are essential measures. In addition, community-based and ferderalized-/resident-based education and risk communication strategies grounded in regional statistical data are required to promote active participation and awareness at the local level.
Methods: Data derived from the Heat Injury Surveillance System by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency in 2025 were used to monitor incidents of heat injuries and heat-related illnesses in the Chungcheong region (36 municipalities). Additional analyses were conducted using meteorological and healthcare utilization data from the Korea Meteorological Administration and Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service, respectively. Regional incidence rates were calculated as the number of heat-related illness cases per 100,000 population. To visualize regional distribution, a hexagon binning (hexbin) tool was applied.
Results: In 2025, a total of 527 heat-related illness cases were reported in the Chungcheong region. Men accounted for 426 cases (80.8%), which is approximately four times higher than women (101 cases, 19.2%). The highest proportion of cases was observed for individuals aged 40–59 years (171 cases, 32.4%). The proportion of cases for individuals aged 60 years and older was 39.6%, representing a decrease of 2.2 percentage points compared with the previous year. The study noted substantial regional disparities in heat-related illness cases, ranging from 2.3 per 100,000 population in Dong-gu, Daejeon, to 49.6 per 100,000 population in Okcheon County, Chungcheongbuk-do, which corresponds to a 21.6-fold difference. In Chungcheongnam-do, the areas exhibiting the most number of cases remained consistent with those observed in the previous year, including Cheongyang County (40.9), Yesan County (25.4), and Dangjin City (23.8). In Chungcheongbuk-do, the ranking of high-incidence areas was reversed compared with the previous year, with Okcheon County (49.6), Danyang County (40.6), and Boeun County (36.2) obtaining the highest rates. Estimated heat-related deaths occurred exclusively in Chungcheongnam-do, with two deaths reported in Dangjin and one each in Cheongyang, Buyeo, and Gongju.
Conclusions: To enhance climate–health literacy and community engagement, furthering stratifying vulnerable groups at risk of heat-related illnesses and developing customized health guidance materials are essential measures. In addition, community-based and ferderalized-/resident-based education and risk communication strategies grounded in regional statistical data are required to promote active participation and awareness at the local level.
Public Health Weekly Report 2026; 19(14): 601-624
Original Articles
Objectives: In 2024, the Chungnam Center for Infectious Diseases Control and Prevention implemented an infectious disease prevention education program for elementary school students in Chungnam Province, the Republic of Korea. The program, titled Dream Tree Infectious Disease Safe School, was conducted between May and November 2024.
Methods: Fifteen elementary schools without school nurses and with fewer than 50 students participated, totaling 353 students. To evaluate the program effectiveness, surveys assessing handwashing awareness and attitudes were administered before, immediately after, and three months following the education session.
Results: Awareness and attitudes were scored on a scale of 0 to 100. Both handwashing awareness and attitudes improved after the educational intervention compared with baseline levels. The mean awareness score increased from 85.7±17.3 before education to 93.5±12.4 after education. Similarly, the mean attitude score increased from 85.2±21.2 to 91.7±17.8 after the intervention. Three months after the education, handwashing awareness remained above the pre-education level (89.7±15.7). Overall, awareness scores exceeded attitude scores after the program. Differences were also observed by student characteristics. Female students demonstrated higher awareness scores than male students both before and after education. Students in upper grades (grades 4–6) showed higher awareness and attitude scores than lower grades students (grades 1–3) after education.
Conclusions: These findings suggest that infectious disease prevention education can effectively improve handwashing awareness and attitudes among elementary school students. The results highlight the importance of providing regular, tailored infectious disease prevention education that considers student gender and grade level.
Methods: Fifteen elementary schools without school nurses and with fewer than 50 students participated, totaling 353 students. To evaluate the program effectiveness, surveys assessing handwashing awareness and attitudes were administered before, immediately after, and three months following the education session.
Results: Awareness and attitudes were scored on a scale of 0 to 100. Both handwashing awareness and attitudes improved after the educational intervention compared with baseline levels. The mean awareness score increased from 85.7±17.3 before education to 93.5±12.4 after education. Similarly, the mean attitude score increased from 85.2±21.2 to 91.7±17.8 after the intervention. Three months after the education, handwashing awareness remained above the pre-education level (89.7±15.7). Overall, awareness scores exceeded attitude scores after the program. Differences were also observed by student characteristics. Female students demonstrated higher awareness scores than male students both before and after education. Students in upper grades (grades 4–6) showed higher awareness and attitude scores than lower grades students (grades 1–3) after education.
Conclusions: These findings suggest that infectious disease prevention education can effectively improve handwashing awareness and attitudes among elementary school students. The results highlight the importance of providing regular, tailored infectious disease prevention education that considers student gender and grade level.
Public Health Weekly Report 2026; 19(14): 625-642
QuickStats
Public Health Weekly Report 2026; 19(14): 643-644
Full Text
Cite
Share
About
Archives
Instruction
Publishing Policies
e-Submission
Contact Us
