PHWR Public Health Weekly Report

Vol.17 No.34, August 29, 2024 Article TypePolicy NotesQuickStatsReview & PerspectiveSurveillance Reports

• Surveillance Reports 2024-08-29

  0 306 55

  Results of Operating the 2023 Heat-related Illness Surveillance System

  Juhyun Lee, Daeshik An, Younjhin Ahn*

  Public Health Weekly Report 2024; 17(34): 1421-1431 https://doi.org/10.56786/PHWR.2024.17.34.1

  

  

  Abstract

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  Since 2011, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency has been operating a “Heat-related Illness Surveillance System” to monitor the occurrence of illnesses (such as heatstroke, heat exhaustion, heat cramps, heat syncope, and heat edema) caused by heat waves at approximately 500 emergency room-operating medical institutions nationwide during the summer. In 2023, 504 medical institutions participated in the Heat-related Illness Surveillance System, and during the operation period (May 20, 2023, to September 30, 2023), 2,818 patients were reported to have heat-related illnesses, of whom 32 were presumed to have died. The number of patients with heat-related illnesses increased by 80.2% compared with the previous year. Among the reported patients with heat-related illnesses, there were more male patients (77.8%, 2,192) than female patients (22.2%, 626). By age, individuals in their 50s, 60s, and 40s accounted for 21.3% (601), 18.2% (514), and 13.7% (385) of the patients. The locations of illness occurrence were outdoors in most cases (79.6%, 2,243), and the percentage of corresponding cases was 3.9 times higher than that of the cases in which the illness occurred indoors (20.4%, 575), and outdoor workplaces accounted for the largest proportion of cases (32.4%, 913). The estimated number of deaths reported in 2023 was 32, a 255.6% increase from the previous year, and the cause of death was mainly heatstroke (90.6%). Health damage due to heat waves is expected to increase in the future. Therefore, information sharing regarding and monitoring the impact of heat waves on health are expected to become even more important.

• Review & Perspective 2024-08-29

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  Global Measles Outbreaks

  Ju-Young Sim, Jae-Hwa Chung, Ji-Young Oh, Jee-Eun Yi, Yun-Hee Lee, Si-Won Choi, Ji-A Lee, Yeo-Won Jin, Hyo-Soon Yoo*

  Public Health Weekly Report 2024; 17(34): 1432-1448 https://doi.org/10.56786/PHWR.2024.17.34.2

  

  

  Abstract

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  In 2023, as public health and social measures due to coronavirus disease 2 019 (COVID-19) eased and overseas travel resumed, measles cases increased rapidly worldwide. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), approximately 320,000 measles cases were reported worldwide in 2023, 1.8 times higher than approximately 170,000 cases in 2022. Even in countries verified as measles-eradication countries, community epidemics have been observed mainly among unvaccinated and incompletely vaccinated people. The WHO indicated that low vaccination rates and increased international travel are the main causes of the rapid increase in measles outbreaks. During the COVID-19 pandemic, vaccination services were suspended or delayed in many countries, significantly decreasing vaccination rates. Simultaneously, as travel restrictions eased, population movement increased worldwide, creating an environment that made it easy for the measles virus to spread to various regions. The WHO has set the goal of eradicating measles by 2030, and important strategies include maintaining and strengthening vaccination rates, strengthening quarantine, patient surveillance, public health education, and information sharing through international cooperation. As of 2022, the Republic of Korea has maintained a relatively high vaccination rate by meeting the standards for maintaining herd immunity of over 95% recommended by the WHO, with a secondary vaccination rate of 95%. However, there is a risk of transmission through certain age groups and overseas inflows where vaccination rates are relatively low. Therefore, in areas with an active measles outbreak, it is essential to be vaccinated before traveling to areas where outbreaks are increasing, and careful monitoring is necessary to prevent domestic inflow.

• Policy Notes 2024-08-29

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  Introduction of a Pilot Project to Establish a Regional Comprehensive Medical Response System in 2023

  Min-ha Hwang, Hwan-hee Kim, Ji-young Park*

  Public Health Weekly Report 2024; 17(34): 1449-1461 https://doi.org/10.56786/PHWR.2024.17.34.3

  Abstract

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  To overcome the repeated experience of hospital bed and medical personnel shortages for epidemics such as coronavirus disease 2019 delta and omicron, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) announced the “Mid- to Long-term Plan for Emerging Infectious Disease Pandemics” in May 2023. A key goal of this was “establishing a response system capable of responding to 1 million confirmed cases per day.” Accordingly, the KDCA promoted “A Pilot Project to Establish a Regional Comprehensive Medical Response System” as one of its core tasks of “significantly expanding medical response infrastructure and establishing a specialized treatment system.” In 2023, each region established consultative bodies focused on infectious diseases, centered on regional hospitals, thereby laying the foundation for tailored medical response systems. However, budget constraints leading to a lack of dedicated personnel, participating organizations' limited understanding, and policy gaps due to exclusion of key bodies like the Ministry of Health and Welfare and Central Infectious Disease Hospital emerged as challenges. To further develop a medical response system tailored to the characteristics of the region, the performance of the project needs to be strengthened and its limitations improved.

• QuickStats 2024-08-29

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  Trends in the Prevalence Gap of High-risk Drinking between Cities or Provinces, during 2014-2023

  Public Health Weekly Report 2024; 17(34): 1462-1463 https://doi.org/10.56786/PHWR.2024.17.34.4

  

  

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