PHWR Public Health Weekly Report

Vol.13 No.22, May 28, 2020 Article TypeCOVID-19 Special ReportEpidemiology and SurveillanceNoncommunicable Disease StatisticsOriginal Articles

• COVID-19 Special Report 2020-05-28

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  Weekly report on the COVID-19 situation in the Republic of Korea (As of May 23, 2020)

  Kim Miyoung, Kweon Sanghui, Kim Yeonju, Kim Younghwa, Yeom Hansol, Choi So Young, Hwang Insob, Yoo Hyosoon, Park Young Joon, Gwack Jin, Park Ok

  Public Health Weekly Report 2020; 13(22): 1540-1551

  

  

  Abstract

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  This is a weekly report on the COVID-19 situation in the Republic of Korea based on the confirmed cases reported through the integrated system to Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention according to the INFECTIOUS DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION ACT and based on the epidemiological investigation by central and local health authorities.
  As of May 23, 2020, there were 11,206 confirmed cases of COVID-19, and including 266 deaths. Confirmed cases were reported in all 17 provinces/cities in Korea, with the highest number of cases from Daegu, Gyeongbuk, Seoul, and Gyeonggi. The results indicated that, by gender, women accounted for a slightly higher proportion (58.5%, n=6,555) of total confirmed cases than men. And, by age the median age was 43 years old (range: 0 to 104 years old).
  The main infectious paths confirmed by epidemiological investigations showed several major clusters related to COVID-19. Of the total cases, the proportion of imported cases was 10.8% (n=1,214); 46.5% (n=5,212) were Shincheonji (and related); 34.0% (n=3,810) are small clusters and contacts of confirmed cases (other than Shincheonji); and 8.7% (n=970) are currently under investigation as per infection route surveys.

• Epidemiology and Surveillance 2020-05-28

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  Results of the Tuberculosis Epidemiological Investigation Congregated Settings, 2019

  Han Sunmi, Park Yong-joon, Kim Youngman, Park Shin Young, Kim Jieun, Park Young Joon

  Public Health Weekly Report 2020; 13(22): 1552-1560

  

  

  Abstract

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  Tuberculosis (TB) is an airborne infectious disease caused by Mycobaterium tuberculosis, a species of pathogenic bacteria. Individuals with TB often infect those they come into close contact with. It is generally accepted that 5-10% of the individuals with latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI), a state of persistent immune response to stimulation by Mycobacterium tuberculosis antigens without evidence of clinically manifested active TB, develop active TB in their lifetime, with 50% developing active TB within two years after infection. Therefore the management of recent contacts of patients with infectious TB is important for the overall management of TB. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that tests and treatments for LTBI be prioritized for contacts of TB patients.
  The aim of this study was to report the results of the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) 2019 TB epidemiological investigation in congregated settings. Since 2013, according to the Korean National Tuberculosis Control Program, contact investigations of infectious TB were enhanced for congregated settings such as educational facilities, clinics/hospitals, military/police units, social welfare facilities, correctional facilities and workplaces. In 2019, a total of 4,526 contact investigations in congregated settings were conducted by the KCDC. A total of 130,843 contacts were identified, and 154 TB cases were found. Of the 67,259 contacts who were tested for LTBI, 12,873 individuals were identified as having LTBI. This study concluded that to enable early detection and prevention of TB, the KCDC must further strengthen contact investigation.

• Original Articles 2020-05-28

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  Trends in tobacco use behaviors among Korean adults, 2013-2018: comparison with tobacco sales

  Lee Cheol Min

  Public Health Weekly Report 2020; 13(22): 1561-1572

  

  

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  With the advent of new tobacco products (e-cigarettes and heated tobacco product) in South Korea, there is also a change in the behavior of existing smokers. Already, new tobacco products accounted for more than 10 percent of South Korea’s tobacco sales in 2019. This study aims to identify changes in tobacco use behavior by analyzing data from 2013 to 2018 that e-cigarettes were included in the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey and the statistics on tobacco sales by the Ministry of Economy and Finance. The current smoking rate is on the decline in men (41.4% → 35.8%), but in women it has increased in recent years (5.7% → 6.5%). The current rate of e-cigarette use has been on the rise again since 2017, after hitting the highest level in 2015 when tobacco prices rose (men, 2.0% → 6.3%; women, 0.3% → 0.9). While the percentage of people who exclusively use e-cigarette is only less than 1 percent, the rate of dual use (both conventional and electronic cigarettes) is on the rise (men, 1.8% → 5.7%; women, 0.2% → 0.8%). The latest statistics from the Ministry of Economy and Finance show that the pace of decline in total tobacco sales is slowing down, different from other statistics. The drop in total tobacco sales, which stood at –4% over the past five years (2014-2019), was –1.5% in 2018 and –0.7% in 2019, meaning that current policy has failed to deal closely with the expansion of new tobacco products. There is a need to evaluate and establish tobacco control policy, based on accurate national statistics on various tobacco products.

• Noncommunicable Disease Statistics 2020-05-28

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  Trend of current smoking rates among Korean adults aged 19 and over, 2007-2018; Percentage of those who have attempted to stop smoking and have stop-smoking plan among current smokers aged ≥ 19 years, South Korea, 2007-2018

  Public Health Weekly Report 2020; 13(22): 1573-1576

  

  

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