PHWR Public Health Weekly Report

Vol.17 No.26, July 04, 2024 Article TypeOriginal ArticlesOutbreak ReportsPolicy NotesQuickStats

• Original Articles 2024-07-04

  1 178 81

  Estimation of Burden of Disease due to Climate Change in the Republic of Korea

  Jin-Nam Kim, Seo-Yeon Chung, In-Hwan Oh, Jong-Hun Kim, Eunji Jung, Younjhin Ahn

  Public Health Weekly Report 2024; 17(26): 1119-1142 https://doi.org/10.56786/PHWR.2024.17.26.1

  

  

  Abstract

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  To calculate the burden of disease due to climate change in the Republic of Korea, we categorized the health effects of climate change based on the content of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency’s “First Climate Health Impact Assessment Report.” We considered the impacts of climate phenomena such as heat waves and cold waves on health, as well as the effects of air quality and infectious diseases, and selected specific diseases for calculation. To determine the current disease burden, We analyzed the sample cohort database of the National Health Insurance Service from 2017 to 2019, Statistics Korea’s Cause of Death Statistics data, the Korea Meteorological Administration’s open MET Data Portal, and the Ministry of Environment’ s AIRKOREA to calculate heat waves, cold waves, air quality, and infectious diseases. Heat waves accounted for disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) in the following order: cardiovascular diseases (2,031), heat-related illnesses (1,631), nonaccidental deaths (904), and acute kidney failure (137). Cold waves are associated with cold-related illnesses (3,991) and non-accidental deaths (2,234). Short-term exposure to fine particulate matter was associated with cardiovascular diseases (9,374), ischemic heart diseases (8,803), and non-accidental deaths (1,377). Long-term exposure to fine particulate matter was associated with total deaths (235,561), strokes (30,884), lung cancer (24,585), ischemic heart diseases (20,466), and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (4,195), with ozone-related diseases and infectious diseases accounting for 452 and 4,361 DALYs, respectively. This study is significant in that it confirms the current level of disease burden due to climate change in the framework of a climate health impact assessment. It is expected that future periodic measurements by socioeconomic level can contribute to reducing health disparities due to climate change.

• Outbreak Reports 2024-07-04

  2 87 17

  Report on the Epidemic Investigation of the Pertussis Outbreak in Gyeongsangnam-do, 2023–2024

  U Jin Cho, Ah-Ra Kim, Hye Rim Park, Da-Hye An, Seul-Gi Yang, Yeonjung Kim

  Public Health Weekly Report 2024; 17(26): 1143-1157 https://doi.org/10.56786/PHWR.2024.17.26.2

  

  

  Abstract

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  Pertussis is a legally designated Class 2 infectious disease managed through the national vaccination program. While the number of patients in the Republic of Korea has decreased significantly due to increased vaccination rates, caution is still necessary because the disease affects various age groups, from unvaccinated children to adolescents and adults. From October 1, 2023, to February 29, 2024, 268 pertussis cases were reported in the Gyeongsangnam-do area, which has experienced two small-scale outbreaks in the past 10 years. To explore effective infectious disease management strategies, recent outbreak cases were analyzed, and the field response process was described. An analysis of 268 pertussis cases showed that the majority (87.2%) of confirmed cases occurred in Changwon-si Masanhoewon-gu and Haman-gun in Gyeongsangnam-do, primarily among school-aged children aged 5–14 years (89.9%). Among the patients, 258 (96.3%) showed symptoms of coughing, 60 (22.4%) required hospitalization, and the rest recovered through outpatient treatment. The main route of infection was identified as transmission through group living environments in educational facilities, such as daycare centers, schools, academies, and after-school classes. The decrease in immunity among school-aged children after initial vaccinations in infancy was identified as a major factor in the spread of the outbreak. Hence, it is necessary to develop vaccination strategies tailored to the specific characteristics of areas affected by the epidemic and to actively promote clinical and epidemiological education within the community providing information about pertussis.

• Policy Notes 2024-07-04

  0 93 23

  Results of the Evaluation of the Priority of Vaccine Introduction for the Expansion of the National Immunization Program

  In-Yeong Seo, Jee-Yeon Shin, Dong-Woo Lee*

  Public Health Weekly Report 2024; 17(26): 1158-1170 https://doi.org/10.56786/PHWR.2024.17.26.3

  Abstract

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  Immunization is effective in preventing infectious diseases. Yearly, it prevents 3.5–5 million infectious-disease-related deaths. The Republic of Korea has implemented the national immunization program since 1954, continuously expanding the program to protect people’s health. Given its significant impact on public health and substantial financial cost, the expansion of the national immunization program should be based on objective and scientific evidence. Therefore, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) conducts prioritization assessments and promotes the expansion of the national immunization program based on these assessments. The rotavirus vaccine, evaluated as the first priority for introduction through the 2021 prioritization assessment, was introduced into the national immunization program in 2023. However, owing to changes in the situation, such as the development of new vaccines, it is necessary to set new priorities for introduction periodically. Therefore, the priorities for introduction in 2023 were reset. The KDCA prioritized the introduction of 15 detailed plans for seven infectious diseases, including influenza vaccine for people with chronic diseases, pneumococcal vaccine for people aged 65 years and older, human papillomavirus 9-valent vaccine switch, and live-shingles vaccine for people aged 70 years and older. Based on the results of this study, the KDCA will continue to expand the introduction of the national immunization program by comprehensively considering administrative feasibility, such as vaccine supply and budget availability.

• QuickStats 2024-07-04

  0 32 16

  Trends in the Prevalence of Current Smoking among Adolescents, 2014–2023

  Public Health Weekly Report 2024; 17(26): 1171-1172 https://doi.org/10.56786/PHWR.2024.17.26.4

  

  

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