PHWR Public Health Weekly Report

Vol.13 No.25, June 18, 2020 Article TypeCOVID-19 Special ReportEpidemiology and Surveillance

• COVID-19 Special Report 2020-06-18

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  Weekly report on the COVID-19 situation in the Republic of Korea (As of June 13, 2020)

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

  Public Health Weekly Report 2020; 13(25): 1774-1787

  

  

  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 June 13, 2020, there were 12,110 confirmed cases of COVID-19, and including 277 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 (57.8%, n=7,000) of total confirmed cases than men. And, by age the median age was 44 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 11.1% (n=1,343); 43.0% (n=5,213) were Shincheonji (and related); 37.2% (n=4,499) are small clusters and contacts of confirmed cases (other than Shincheonji); and 8.7% (n=1,055) are currently under investigation as per infection route surveys.

• Epidemiology and Surveillance 2020-06-18

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  Epidemiological Characteristics of Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) in 2019

  Lee Jia, Lee Seon Kui

  Public Health Weekly Report 2020; 13(25): 1788-1795

  

  

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  Since the first reported Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) human infection in 2012, MERS cases have been reported annually, mainly in the Arabian Peninsula. In 2019, according to the Ministry of Health in Saudi Arabia and the World Health Organization(WHO), a total of 222 MERS cases were confirmed with 59 MERS-related deaths. The cases were reported from 4 countries; Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Oman and Qatar.
  Oman reported two clusters with thirteen confirmed cases in January and February, and UAE and Qatar identified sporadic cases with one case and three cases, respectively. In Saudi Arabia, the number of cases from February to April was relatively high because four hospital-related outbreaks were identified in Riyadh and Eastern provinces. In particular, 86.1% of the secondary cases were reported in this period. Most MERS confirmed cases in Saudi Arabia were male (80.5%), and had underlying diseases (67.8%), with a mean age of 53.0 and a fatality rate of 27.3%. The highest fatality rate was demonstrated in hospitalized patients (50.0%). The overall outbreak situation and epidemiological characteristics in 2019 were similar to those of 2018. Since MERS imported cases from affected areas continue to pose a public health threat, early detection of confirmed cases and rapid response are key in preventing further spread.

• Epidemiology and Surveillance 2020-06-18

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  Surveillance of Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD) Patients in the Republic of Korea, 2016-2019

  Lee Shin Young, Lee Ji Yeon, Park Sook Kyoung, Kim Miyoung

  Public Health Weekly Report 2020; 13(25): 1796-1807

  

  

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  Creutzfeldt-Jacob Disease (CJD) is a neurodegenerative disorder believed to be caused by an abnormal isoform of cellular glycoprotein known as the prion protein. This report is the result of an analysis of the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of CJD patients, which were notified to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) from 2016 to 2019.
  From 2016 to 2019, a total of 188 CJD patients were reported. Of that total, 64.9% (n=122) were between 60 to 70 years of age and 58% (n=109) were female. Cases were reported in each province with 25% (n=45) reported in Gyeonggi Province and 22.9% (n=43) reported in Seoul Metropolitan City. Across all province, 1.6% (n=3) were confirmed by autopsy, 95.2% (n=179) were probable cases, and 3.2% (n=6) were possible cases. By types of CJD, sporadic CJD accounted for 87.8% (n=165) of the cases; genetic CJD accounted for 12.2% (n=23) with 0 cases of both iatrogenic and variant CJD. The median age of onset for sporadic CJD was 67 years (ages 35 to 93), and the average duration of the disease until death was approximately 4 months (2 to 11 months). About 66.5% (n=125) of those with CJD had cerebellar dysfunction.
  CJD is a fatal and incurable disease. This reported concluded that CJD requires active and continuous surveillance for early detection, and infection control to prevent its transmission through surgical equipment contaminated with prion.

• Epidemiology and Surveillance 2020-06-18

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  Distribution of Legionella Species from Environmental Water Sources of Public Facilities in South Korea, 2018-2019

  Lee Jin, Jung Sang Oun, Yoo Ja Eil, Hwang Kyu Jam

  Public Health Weekly Report 2020; 13(25): 1808-1814

  

  

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  Distribution analysis and pollution degree surveys for Legionella species in public water systems represent critical data for preparing a proactive management system that can respond promptly when a case occurs. However, basic information on the types analysis of Legionella species from the public water system in Korea is insufficient. This study aimed to provide basic data to elucidate the relationship between Legionella species and the public water system in the event of an outbreak. In this study, the distribution of the strains of Legionella separated from the public water system was analyzed according to the dominant species and facilities in Korea from June 2018 to December 2019. A total of 2041 Legionella species were collected from the public water system including buildings, hotels, shopping centers, hospitals, public baths and welfare facilities. L. pneumophila was distributed broadly throughout Korea, accounting for 85.4% of the isolates, L. pneumophila serogroup 1 (31.7%) was predominant in all the public facilities, and Legionella anisa was predominant among non-L. pneumophila species.