PHWR Public Health Weekly Report

Vol.14 No.13, March 25, 2021 Article TypeEpidemiology and Surveillance

• Epidemiology and Surveillance 2021-03-25

  0 1611 224

  COVID-19 Variant Surveillance Study in the Republic of Korea

  Kim Il-Hwan, Park Ae Kyung, Kim Jeong-Min, Kim Heui Man, Lee Nam-Joo, Woo SangHee, Lee Chae young, Lee Jaehee, Rhee JeeEun, Kim Eun-Jin

  Public Health Weekly Report 2021; 14(13): 724-733

  

  

  Abstract

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  Recently, the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) virus variants originating in the United Kingdom (UK), South Africa, and Brazil are spreading all over the world, and the variants are known to be different from non-variants in their transmissibility and immune effect. Accordingly, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommended public health measures for variants and proposed working definitions of a variant of concern (VOC) and a variant of interest (VOI).
  The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) has been continuously monitoring the genotype and the variations of COVID-19 virus through whole genome sequencing analysis from the outbreak of COVID-19 in January 20, 2020, to the present. As a result, 162 VOCs originating from the UK (138), South Africa (18), and Brazil (6) and 61 VOIs originating from California, USA (55), New York, USA (3) and the UK/Nigeria (3). were identified early, and the genome information of the variants confirmed through surveillance were shared in the GISAID DB for international cooperation. To cope with the continuing spread of COVID-19 variants, the KDCA is continuing to strengthen its surveillance system by expanding its analysis capacity. This report was intended to help establish countermeasures to prevent the spread of variants by providing information on the characteristics of variants occurring at domestic and overseas, and the results of domestic surveillance.

• Epidemiology and Surveillance 2021-03-25

  0 343 103

  Epidemiological and clinical characteristics of COVID-19 variants of concern in the Republic of Korea

  Kim Jia, Kim Jeong Yeon, Gwack Jin

  Public Health Weekly Report 2021; 14(13): 734-741

  

  

  Abstract

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  From January 20, 2020 to March 1, 2021, a total of 90,029 cases of Coronavirus disease-19 emerged after the first confirmed case was reported in Korea. A total of 162 patients of Variants of Concern (VOCs) have been confirmed since the first case was confirmed in Korea in December 2020. The purpose of this paper was to analyze and share the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of VOC patients in Korea. This paper is relevant because its findings offer suggestions as to how to respond to VOCs that can affect transmissibility and mortality among variants.
  The epidemiological and clinical characteristics of 162 VOC cases in Korea were analyzed using initial and in-depth epidemiological investigation results reported through the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency’s (KDCA) COVID-19 information management system; the information system for managing confirmed patients (HIRAe).
  The 162 VOC cases were divided into three groups: 501Y.V1, 501Y.V2 and 501Y.V3. Among the 162 cases, there were 127 imported cases (78.4%) and 35 locally-acquired cases(21.6%). There were 106 male cases (65.4%) and 56 female cases (34.6%). The average age was 36.4. By age group, people aged 30 to 39 accounted for 25.9%. 105 cases (64.8%) were Korean nationals. One hundred cases (61.7%) were symptomatic at diagnosis. Among the symptoms, 37 (22.8%) was mild respiratory symptoms without fever, and 27 (16.7%) was mild respiratory symptoms with fever. Most symptoms of VOC patients in Korea were mild, but five of the 501Y.V1 (VOC originating from the UK) patients were severe/critical (including one death). The rate of severe/critical symptoms was 3.09%, and the fatality rate was 0.6%.
  However, since researches on VOCs are ongoing worldwide and the number of VOCs detected in Korea is increasing, it is important to establish strategy for variant virus patient management through continuous monitoring and analysis.

• Epidemiology and Surveillance 2021-03-25

  0 203 120

  Cases of outbreaks caused by COVID-19 variant in the Republic of Korea

  Kim Eun-Young, Park Shin Young, Lee Seon-Young, Yu Jeong-Hee, Lee Hyunju, Ryu Boyeong, Jeong, Se-Jin, JI MI GYEONG, Kim Na-young, Hyun Junghee, Kim Miyoung, Kim Youngman, Park Young Joon

  Public Health Weekly Report 2021; 14(13): 742-748

  

  

  Abstract

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  In December 2020, a mutant virus originating from the UK was first identified in overseas travelers who entered Korea. Thereafter, until March 1, a total of 162 cases of Variants of Concern(VOCs) have beee confirmed. There were 5 cases of VOCs in the cluster outbreaks confirmed by March 1st. Of these, three cases were conducted in detailed epidemiological investigations.
  The purpose of this report was to describe the propagation pathways and epidemiological relationships between groups, and to report on the results of contact follow-up management.
  This report recommended responding to the occurrence of confirmed patients in groups with high possibilities of carrying a variant and establishing measures to prevent the spread of the local community.