PHWR Public Health Weekly Report

Vol.16 No.32, August 17, 2023 Article TypeQuickStatsReview & PerspectiveSurveillance Reports

• Surveillance Reports 2023-08-17

  1 346 184

  Surveillance of Tick Density in the Republic of Korea, 2022

  Byung-Eon Noh, Hyunwoo Kim, Jung-Won Ju, Hee-Il Lee

  Public Health Weekly Report 2023; 16(32): 1119-1130 https://doi.org/10.56786/PHWR.2023.16.32.1

  

  

  Abstract

  Full Text Cite Share

  Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) is a class 3 infectious disease, fitst identified in China, 2009. In 2013, SFTS case was reported in the Republic of Korea, and the number of patients has been increasing. Ticks are infectious agent vectors that transmit varied pathogens such as viruses, bacteria, rickettsia and parasites. To surveillance of ticks was monitored for prevent a tick-borne diseases, from April to November, at 16 regions and 4 environments ( gravs, grasslands, copses, and mountain roads) surveyed in 2022. In this survey, a total of 61,259 ixodid ticks comprising 3 genere and 5 species were collected. Of the identified ticks, Haemaphysalis longicornis was the most frequently collected ticks (except larval ricks). The most abundantly collected environment was glassland (20,991 ticks, 34.3%) followed by copses (20,558 ticks, 33.6%), graves (11,048 ticks, 18.0%), and mountain roads (8,662 ticks, 14.1%). Tick density (Trap Index, no. of collected tick/trap) in 2022 decreased by 9.3%, 27.0% compared to 2021 and average of last 5 years. As outdoor activities are expected to increase due to the recent relaxation of quarantine guidelines increase in the number of people working outdoors, there is a high concern that the number of SFTS patients will increase. Therefore, continuous investigation is necessary to tick surveillance.

• Surveillance Reports 2023-08-17

  2 412 139

  Infection Status of Intestinal Helminths in 2022

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

  Public Health Weekly Report 2023; 16(32): 1131-1140 https://doi.org/10.56786/PHWR.2023.16.32.2

  

  

  Abstract

  Full Text Cite Share

  The Division of Vectors and Parasitic Diseases at the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency has been using Active Case Detection programs to investigate the infection status of intestinal parasites among residents of endemic areas and facilitate anthelminthics treatment. The survey used a test method that gathers stool samples from residents in the epidemic areas. In this survey, we investigated including essential areas divided into eup, myeon, dong. The overall positive rate of intestinal parasite eggs was 5.3%. The infection rate was the highest at 3.3% for Clonorchis sinensis, followed by 1.7% for heterophyid flukes and 0.2% for Trichuris trichiura . Geographically, the overall intestinal parasite infection rate was highest in Gwangyang-si (12.9%), while the infection rate of C. sinensis was highest in Andong-si (9.7%) among all participated areas. Continuous surveillance, education, and treatment are recommended to reduce the infection rate of intestinal parasites in endemic areas.

• Review & Perspective 2023-08-17

  0 588 193

  Improvement of the Approval System for the Development and Experimentation of Living Modified Organisms in Synthetic Biology

  Soo Rin Kim, Wooseong Kim, Soo-Jin Yeom, Kwon-Young Choi, Yoonju Shin, Jeonghwa Shin, Ji-Sook Hahn

  Public Health Weekly Report 2023; 16(32): 1141-1161 https://doi.org/10.56786/PHWR.2023.16.32.3

  

  

  Abstract

  Full Text Cite Share

  The advancement of synthetic biology and its expanding influence on future industries has given rise to a growing need to deregulate the development and experimentation of living modified organisms (LMOs) created by synthetic biology. This article aims to explore the current state of laws and regulations governing synthetic biology-related LMOs and identify trends in the development and experimentation of LMOs. Based on this analysis, we propose a plan for the improvement of the national approval system for LMO development and experimentation that both ensures the safety of LMO research and revitalizes related research.

• QuickStats 2023-08-17

  1 1837 370

  Trends in the Prevalence of Perceived Health Status among Adults, 2012–2021

  Public Health Weekly Report 2023; 16(32): 1162-1163 https://doi.org/10.56786/PHWR.2023.16.32.4

  

  

  Full Text Cite Share