PHWR Public Health Weekly Report

Objectives: This study investigates the potential source and transmission routes of a confirmed Vibrio vulnificus infection reported in the Republic of Korea in 2025 through epidemiological surveys. The findings provide evidence to support future prevention and management strategies for vibriosis.
Methods: The Central Epidemiological Investigation Team of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, in collaboration with local governments, established a joint investigation team. The team interviewed the patient and conducted on-site epidemiological assessments. Environmental samples were collected and analyzed through laboratory testing to culture and identify Vibrio vulnificus bacteria. Genetic analysis using pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) was conducted on the isolates to determine their genetic relatedness.
Results: The investigation indicated that the patient’s clinical symptoms and incubation period were consistent with major symptoms of vibriosis. Laboratory testing identified Vibrio vulnificus in both human and clam samples; however, PFGE showed that the strains were not genetically related, making it difficult to designate the clams as the definitive source of infection.
Conclusions: To prevent vibriosis, frozen seafood should be thoroughly heat treatment before consumption. Proper hygiene practices, such as washing hands after handling raw seafood and storing raw seafood separately from other foods, are also essential. High-risk individuals, particularly those with underlying conditions such as chronic liver disease, should strictly adhere to these prevention guidelines to reduce the risk of infection.

Objectives: Personal mobility devices (PMDs) have rapidly gained recognition as an innovative and convenient means of transportation. However, the continuous increase in the use of these devices also raises the number of injuries. Therefore, this study aimed to conduct an in-depth analysis of injury surveillance statistics, disseminate the findings, and promote a culture of safe PMD use.
Methods: The 2023 Emergency Department-Based Injury In-depth Surveillance and Simplified Surveillance and the 2023 Community-Based Severe Trauma Survey were used to analyze the characteristics of patients with PMD-related injuries.
Results: Analysis of injury surveillance data revealed that accidents involving “other land transport,” including PMDs, increased 4.7-fold, from 388 (0.8%) cases in 2016 to 1,820 (6.8%) cases in 2023. The proportion of “other land transport” among all transport-related accidents increased 8.5-fold, from 0.8% to 6.8%. Similarly, the number of patients with severe trauma caused by PMDs and other related devices increased from 34 (0.7%) in 2016 to 103 (2.6%) in 2023, representing nearly a threefold increase. Among cases of severe trauma that were classified as “other,” the primary injury site was the head (64.8% in 2023). Furthermore, the simplified surveillance findings revealed that the highest proportion of injured patients (40.4%) were aged 15–24 years, with the majority (86.3%) using electric scooters. The proportion of those not wearing helmets (75.0%) was 6.7 times higher than that of helmet users (11.2%). Based on the analysis results, leaflets and informational notices containing the PMD safety guidelines were distributed and a short-form promotional video for the “Hel-sseu” (#WearHelmet) campaign was posted on the official Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency YouTube channel (Apjima TV).
Conclusions: To prevent injuries and severe trauma associated with PMD use, wearing helmets and other protective gear is extremely crucial. Continuous efforts in education and public awareness campaigns by relevant government agencies are required to promote safe PMD use.