PHWR Public Health Weekly Report

Vol.14 No.33, August 12, 2021 Article TypeEpidemiology and SurveillanceNoncommunicable Disease Statistics

• Epidemiology and Surveillance 2021-08-12

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  Global trends and characteristics of the SARS-CoV-2 Delta Variant

  Boyeong Ryu, Jiyoung Oh, Minjoung Shin, Sookhyun Kim, Inho Kim

  Public Health Weekly Report 2021; 14(33): 2354-2365

  

  

  Abstract

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  In 2021, as the COVID-19 pandemic continues worldwide, SARS-CoV-2 virus variants have been emerging. When the United Kingdom (UK) reported a significant increase of the alpha variant (B.1.1.7) in December 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) and many countries classified and managed it as a variant of concern (VOC). Recently, the delta variant, which has been spreading rapidly in many countries despite increasing vaccination rates. The delta variant changed the overall trend of the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, this study described the current state and characteristics of the Delta variant to provide a better understanding of this variant.
  Delta variant was first reported in India in October 2020, and the WHO designated it as variant of interest (VOI) in April. Then the delta variant was classified as a VOC in May 2021. The delta variant was known to be more transmissible than the alpha variant with 1.6 times higher secondary attack rate in households than that of the alpha variant, and the duration from exposure to a positive test result was about 2 days shorter than that of non-variants. The hospitalization rate was 2.2 times higher than non-VOCs and 1.6 times higher than the alpha variant among emergency room visitors. The vaccine effectiveness for the delta variant was slightly lower than the non-variant and alpha variant. The risk of reinfection was not clear and needs further evidence. Laboratory results found reduced effects of Bamlanivimab against the delta variant. Countries like the United States of America (USA), Israel, and Singapore with high vaccination rates strengthened measures due to the rapid spread of the delta variant.
  The vaccine effectiveness against the delta variant was maintained at 60% to 88% after the second dose. Therefore, improvement of vaccination coverage is the most urgent and social distancing is needed to minimize the overall number of cases.

• Epidemiology and Surveillance 2021-08-12

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  Serotypes of imported dengue fever cases in South Korea, 2018-2020

  Kim Jae-Seok, Kang Hae Ji, Lim Aram, Lee Ye-Ji, Lee Deog-Yong, and Han Myung-Guk

  Public Health Weekly Report 2021; 14(33): 2366-2373

  

  

  Abstract

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  Dengue fever is a mosquito-borne disease caused by the dengue virus (DENV), which occurs in several countries. A large number of dengue cases have recently been reported, particularly in Southeast Asia and South and Central America. All DENV infections in Korea are imported cases, and no reports of autochthonous outbreaks in Korea have been confirmed so far. In this article, we analyzed the dengue fever laboratory test data during 2018-2020 to investigate the distribution status of DENV serotypes and the suspected infection area for dengue imported cases in Korea. A total of 2,812 dengue laboratory tests were performed from 2018 to 2020, of which 17.2% were confirmed positive. The number of dengue laboratory tests and patients was highest in August, and most of the suspected infection regions for dengue fever were Southeast Asia and the Philippines. All four serotypes of DENV were introduced into Korea. The serotypes DENV1 and 2 were the most common, followed by DENV3 and DENV4. To block the DENV spread by management of dengue cases will be important to prevent the spread of DENV in Korea by importation from other countries and virus localization. Confirmation of virus importation by continuous analysis of virus serotype and infection origin area could be used as important data for monitoring the occurrence of autochthonous dengue virus in Korea.

• Noncommunicable Disease Statistics 2021-08-12

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  Trends in self-perceived health status among Korean adults aged 19 years and over, 2008-2019

  Public Health Weekly Report 2021; 14(33): 2374-2375

  

  

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