PHWR Public Health Weekly Report

Vol.14 No.19, May 06, 2021 Article TypeEpidemiology and Surveillance

• Epidemiology and Surveillance 2021-05-06

  0 512 73

  Results of epidemiological investigation of the Coronavirus Disease-19 epidemic that occurred in fitness centers

  Kim Eun-Young, Park Shin Young, Lee Seon-Young, Yu Jeong-Hee, Lee Myung-ok, Lee Joohyung, Kwon Geun-sang, Park Jung-nim, Han Hye-won, Seong Min-ki, Cho Seongmin, Bang Jong-Il, Kim Gwang-Jin, Jang Hyun-Chul, Lee Hyunjoo, Lee Sun-joo, Park Young Joon

  Public Health Weekly Report 2021; 14(19): 1215-1224

  

  

  Abstract

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  An epidemiological investigation was conducted to minimize the spread of local communities by identifying the risk factors for the outbreak of Coronavirus Disease-19 (COVID-19) outbreaks in indoor sports facilities and by preparing effective quarantine measures for related facilities.
  This survey was conducted on 189 peoples who used Fitness Center A from February 15 to February 25, 2021. In order to analyze the general characteristics of the confirmed patients collected through epidemiological investigations, and to evaluate the degree of life quarantine implementation, an online survey and CCTV analysis were conducted for fitness center A users. The risk of aerosol diffusion in the spinning room was evaluated by conducting field exposure risk assessment and computational fluid dynamics analysis.
  From February 25 to March 13, 2021, 49 out of 189 users (25.9%) of Fitness Center A were confirmed, and an additional spread of 31 people occurred in pubs, cafes, restaurants, and homes. As a result of the survey on the degree of wearing a mask, 93.8% (30/32 people) of confirmed patients and 98.1% (52/53 people) of non-confirmed responded that most of them wear a mask during exercise. On the other hand, as a result of the analysis through CCTV, 39.9% (63/158 people) were wearing masks in the spinning exercise space. As a result of the aerosol confidence simulation, it was confirmed that the large droplets discharged during exercise spread throughout the spinning chamber after 2 minutes
  In a space with insufficient ventilation or a dense environment, it is important to observe the rules of life prevention such as periodic ventilation, refraining from using facilities in case of suspicious symptoms, and wearing a mask, as it is possible to spread COVID-19 even at a distance of 2m or more.

• Epidemiology and Surveillance 2021-05-06

  0 284 81

  Quantitative Analysis of a Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Call Center Outbreak, South Korea

  Lee Seon-Young, Park Shin Young, Kim Eun-Young, Yu Jeong-Hee, Ko Hwa Pyeong, Park Joo Youn, Yu Jungyeon, Bae Sangwhan, Kim Gwang-Jin, Jang Hyun-Chul, Ahn SeonHee, Park Young-Joon

  Public Health Weekly Report 2021; 14(19): 1225-1236

  

  

  Abstract

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  Worldwide, it is generally accepted that crowded office settings such as call centers pose a high risk for the spread of Coronavirus Disease-19 (COVID-19). Through a quantitative analysis of the results of a COVID-19 outbreak at a call center in Korea, this study aimed to identify the risk factors of transmission. In February 2021, a total of 121 call center related COVID-19 cases were reported, including 93 call center employees and 28 secondary cases.
  Online surveys, CCTV analysis for contact tracing measures and indoor air propagation environments were evaluated to identify the general characteristics. Epi-curves of confirmed case were collected through epidemiological surveys and assess the implementation of ‘daily life quarantine’ was assessed. Daily life quarantine is a term coined by the Korean Ministry of Health and Welfare to describe a social distancing level that allows people to engage in certain economic and social activities under specified conditions such as mask wearing. The incidence rate on the fourth floor of the call center, where the first confirmed case occurred, was 47.9%, the highest among the which was 78.3%. According to a survey on the implementation of daily life quarantine, 41.5% of confirmed case and 58.5% of non-confirmed case wore Korean Filter 94 (KF94) masks (masks regulated by the Korean Ministry of Food and Drug Safety [MFDS]) while 40.4% of confirmed case and 59.5% of non-confirmed case wore non-KF94 masks as 38.9% of the CCTV analysis showed. As a result of this study’s air diffusion experiment, a change in concentration the air was observed from the seat of the first confirmed cases to a case that sat at the center of team C. It was therefore, determined that the cross infection was a result of the virus spreading through air diffusion.
  This study concluded that it is important for governments to establish specific quarantine measures in the facilities that house call centers (mask-wearing daily life, entry and exit management, symptom management, ventilation check, etc.) and for organizations to create work environments in which daily life quarantine can be properly implemented.

• Epidemiology and Surveillance 2021-05-06

  0 323 77

  Human infection cases with Avian Influenza (AI) virus during the COVID-19 pandemic

  Shin Minjoung, Kim Inho, Kwon Donghyuk

  Public Health Weekly Report 2021; 14(19): 1237-1244

  Abstract

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  Case report on human infection with avian influenza virus has been continued worldwide during the COVID-19 pandemic. Russia Federation reported the world's first human infection case of avian influenza A(H5N8) virus, and the Lao People's Democratic Republic and Cambodia notified their first detection of human cases infected by A(H5N6) and A(H9N2) viruses, respectively. Human infection with avian influenza virus occurs when exposed directly to infected birds or contaminated environments. The clinical signs and symptoms of the disease vary from no symptoms to severe illness or death. Regardless of the limited evidence of human-to-human transmission, the risk of human infection continues with the increase in contact with wild birds and poultry.
  As part of the surveillance outcome, this report will provide information on avian influenza virus infection cases in humans and the assessment outcomes, limiting the cases reported during the COVID-19 pandemic from January 1, 2020 to April 16, 2021.

• Epidemiology and Surveillance 2021-05-06

  0 311 83

  Diagnosis, Treatment and Outcomes of Latent Tuberculosis Infection (LTBI) in the Household Contact Investigation Program

  Park Yong-joon, Park jin-a, Kwon Yunhyung, Shim Eunhye, Shim Ji-ae, Jung Sun-young, Choi Jae Chol

  Public Health Weekly Report 2021; 14(19): 1245-1263

  

  

  Abstract

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  Tuberculosis (TB), a respiratory infectious disease, is known to spread tuberculosis to family members who share in the same space for extended periods of time. In response to the rise in TB cases among family members, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) created the Household Contact Investigation Program. The program is at the core of the KDCA’s National Tuberculosis Management Project that aims to detect and treat additional TB patients and latent TB infection(LTBI) through quick contact investigation.
  o detect and treatment additional tuberculosis patients and latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) through a quick contact investigation.
  This study aimed to identify the epidemiological characteristics of household contacts of TB patients, evaluate the effectiveness in preventing the spread of TB according to whether TB patients are treated or not, and explore factors related to the adverse effects and elimination of LTBI.
  The subjects of the study were examined as household contacts in the KDCA’s TB management data from 2015 to 2018, and were analyzed in connection with the data of the National Health Insurance Service (NHIS).
  The risk of TB spreading among non-participants in the Household Contact Investigation Program was 7.4 times higher than that of participants in the program. TB patients who did not receive treatment for LTBI, were 7.29 times higher than TB patients who completed treatment and 2.47 times higher than TB patients who stopped treatment. The risk of suspension of treatment for LTBI was higher among TB patients aged 76 or older and among TB patients with diabetes. Furthermore, the risk of experiencing the side effects associated with LTBI treatment, was higher in all adult age groups aged 19-35, 36-65, and 75 or older than among children under the age of five. Side effect risks were 9.09 times higher in the age 75 or older group than among children in the under 5 years of age group. This study found that the risk of side effects of LTBI treatment at 66-75 years of age was lower than the risk at 36-65 years of age, given the recommendations for the treatment of LTBI.
  This study concluded that, because the treatment of LTBI reduces the risk of TB, it should be actively recommended to contacts of people diagnosed with LTBI. This study recommended that medical institutions actively manage the side effects among certain age groups and among individuals with an underlying disease.

• Epidemiology and Surveillance 2021-05-06

  0 369 130

  Analysis of national surveillance of respiratory pathogens for children and adolescents’ community acquired pneumonia in Korea, 2018-2019

  Roh Eui Jeong, Chung Eun hee, Kim Donghyeok, Hwang Kyujam, Kim Sohyeon, Jung Sang Oun

  Public Health Weekly Report 2021; 14(19): 1264-1275

  

  

  Abstract

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  Worldwide, respiratory infection in children ranks high in outpatient and inpatient cases. One type of respiratory infection, community acquired pneumonia (CAP), is one of the most infectious diseases worldwide. The causes of CAP vary depending on individual susceptibility and the epidemiological characteristics of the season and the community within which it occurs. Among the many challenges that CAP confers, it is difficult to obtain samples for microbiological diagnosis. The aim of this surveillance was to identify the pathogens that cause respiratory infections and analyze the current status of antibiotic resistance to provide scientific evidence for management policies of domestic respiratory infection. To accomplish this aim, this study conducted a 24-month prospective study of CAP.
  The monitoring network of this study was composed of 28 secondary and tertiary medical institutions based on the national community, and the study operated a community monitoring network for CAP in children, August 2018 to June 2020.
  A total of 1,023 cases were registered for nasopharyngeal aspirate or sputum in patients with CAP, and 264 cases (25.8%) were isolated by culture, S. aureus 131 cases (12.8%), S. pneumoniae 92 cases (9%), and H. influenzae 20 cases (2%). The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) of atypical pneumonia pathogens revealed 422 cases of M. pneumoniae (41.3%), 5 cases of C. pneumoniae (0.5%), and 5 cases (0.5%) of B. pertussis. 14.1%. Furthermore, of the S. pneumoniae cases, 92 cases were resistant to penicillin and 8.7% were resistant to cefotaxime and ceftriaxone. 97.8% of the pathogens were resistant to cefaclor, and 93.5% were resistant to erythromycin. Of the 21 cases of H. influenzae, 71.4% were resistant to ampicillin and 38.1% were resistant to amoxicillin/K clavulanate, and 28.4% were resistant to trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole. Of the 131 S. aureus cases, 53.4% were resistant to oxacillin, 48.1% were resistant to erythromycin, and 43.5% were resistant to clindamycin; no strains were resistant to trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, teicoplanin, linezolid and vancomycin. All 8 cases of K. pneumoiniae showed resistance to ampicillin and cefazolin. Of the 13 cases of P. aeruginosa, 7.7% were resistant to amikacin, cefepime, piperacillin and ceftazidime.
  This study concluded that, in preparation for potential new epidemics and pandemics, including COVID-19, the monitoring of respiratory infections in children and adolescents has become more important and additional research should be conducted.