PHWR Public Health Weekly Report

Vol.17 No.28, July 18, 2024 Article TypeQuickStatsSurveillance Reports

• Surveillance Reports 2024-07-18

  2 183 52

  Waterborne and Foodborne Disease Outbreaks in Metropolitan Areas of the Republic of Korea, 2023

  Eonjoo Park, Mijeong Ko, Eun Jung Jang, Soo Hyeon Cho, Jin Ho Ha, Eun Bee Kim, Seung-Eun Lee

  Public Health Weekly Report 2024; 17(28): 1215-1226 https://doi.org/10.56786/PHWR.2024.17.28.1

  

  

  Abstract

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  The Capital Regional Center for Disease Control and Prevention manages surveillance systems and epidemiological investigations to prevent the spread of waterborne and foodborne diseases in metropolitan areas. In 2023, 268 outbreaks of waterborne and foodborne diseases were reported in metropolitan areas, with norovirus being the most prevalent in 111 cases (41.4%), followed by pathogenic Escherichia coli in 24 cases (9.0%), and salmonella in 17 cases (6.3%). Norovirus outbreaks mostly occur in winter and spring, whereas bacterial outbreaks, including those caused by pathogenic E. coli, mainly occur in summer and autumn. Of the 268 outbreaks, 78 (29.1%) occurred in restaurants, 71 (26.5%) occurred in schools, 67 (25.0%) in childcare centers. By region, 116 (43.2%) cases were reported in Gyeonggi, 73 (27.8%) in Seoul, 53 (19.7%) in Gangwon, and 26 (9.7%) in Incheon. Because different pathogens prevail in each season, waterborne and foodborne diseases emerge consistently throughout the year. Therefore, making it a habit to follow infection prevention guidelines and focus on managing facilities with high outbreak occurrences in each region is necessary in order to prevent and control the spread of waterborne and foodborne diseases.

• Surveillance Reports 2024-07-18

  2 120 38

  Infection Status of Intestinal Helminths in 2023

  Myoung-Ro Lee, Jung-Won Ju, Seon-Ok Baek, Young-Ju Lee, Eun Sol Lee, Hee-Il Lee

  Public Health Weekly Report 2024; 17(28): 1227-1239 https://doi.org/10.56786/PHWR.2024.17.28.2

  

  

  Abstract

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  To reduce the infection of intestinal parasites, the Division of Vectors and Parasitic Diseases, Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) have been investigated the infection rate of intestinal parasites among prevalent areas and support to anthelminthics treatment. The survey used a microscopic test method that gathers stool samples from 26,258 residents in the endemic areas. And to investigate of infection status of Enterobius vermicularis, we collected samples using the cello tape perianal swap method from 34,993 children and examined for presence of E. vermicularis eggs. The overall positive rate of intestinal parasites egg was 3.7%, a 1.6% point decrease compared to last year. The infection rate of Clonorchis sinensis was 1.9%, which was highest and followed by 1.6% for heterophyid flukes, 0.2% for Trichuris trichiura. The infection rates of intestinal parasites was highest in Gwangyang-si (12.3%). The infection rate of E. vermicularis was 0.2%, the highest rate in Jeollanam-do at 0.37%, followed by Jeju special self-governing Province at 0.17%, Chungcheongnam-do at 0.68%, Gyeongsangnam-do at 0.22%, and Gyeongsangbuk-do at 0.07%. In order to lower the rate of intestinal parasite infection, it is necessary to conduct continuous testing treatment intervention focusing on areas where liver fluke is prevalent and to carried out in parallel awareness-raising projects to reduce the risk of infection, such as improving eating habits.

• QuickStats 2024-07-18

  0 26 9

  Trends in the Prevalence of Seat Belts Non-Use among Adolescents, 2014–2023

  Public Health Weekly Report 2024; 17(28): 1240-1241 https://doi.org/10.56786/PHWR.2024.17.28.3

  

  

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