PHWR Public Health Weekly Report

Vol.13 No.4, January 23, 2020 Article TypeEpidemiology and SurveillanceNoncommunicable Disease Statistics

• Epidemiology and Surveillance 2020-01-23

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  New Cases of Leprosy In The Republic of Korea, 2019

  Park soojin, Kim jungwoo, Kong insik

  Public Health Weekly Report 2020; 13(4): 192-200

  

  

  Abstract

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  Leprosy, also known as Hansen’s Disease, is caused by Mycobacterium leprae. Leprosy is a chronic granulomatous disease which affects the skin and peripheral nerves and exhibits various clinical symptoms. The exact mechanism of transmission of leprosy is unclear. However, it is presumed to be transmitted through air or skin contact. The incubation period is estimated to be between 2 to 10 years and it can take as long as 20 years for symptoms and signs of leprosy to appear. In addition, leprosy can be cured through multidrug therapy (MDT) such as Dapsone (DDS), Rifampicin (RMP) and Clofazimine. By way of example, a single dose of Rifampicin is capable of killing 99.9% or more of the M. leprae bacterium, thereby eliminating infectiousness. This study examined four imported cases of leprosy detected in Korea in 2019; non-Korean males from Southeast Asia who entered for the purpose of employment. In terms of age, two patients were in their twenties and two were in their thirties. Among the four cases, one had peripheral neuropathy at the time of detection. In 1982, Korea achieved the WHO’s goal of leprosy elimination and maintained a prevalence rate of less than 1 case per 10,000 population. However, recently the incidence of newly detected cases has increased significantly in Korea due to the migrant influx from high-endemic regions. Furthermore, this study found that the low prevalence rates of leprosy have impacted public awareness as well as the diagnostic skills of medical staff to detect and confirm suspicious symptoms early. Therefore, as part of the national leprosy management project, the Korean government implemented customized policies to improve the early and specific diagnostic skills of medical staff, strengthen local and global awareness, and improve the follow-up management of suspected and confirmed cases.

• Epidemiology and Surveillance 2020-01-23

  0 99 22

  Pathogen Surveillance of Acute Viral Gastroenteritis in Korea, 2018

  Cho Seung-Rye, Chae Su-Jin, Lee Deog-yong, Choi Wooyoung

  Public Health Weekly Report 2020; 13(4): 201-209

  

  

  Abstract

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  Acute diarrheal disease is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in children under five years of age and is associated with about half a million deaths annually worldwide. The Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, together with the Korean Institute of Health and Environmental Research, and more than 70 cooperative hospitals, examined the prevalence of the virus that causes acute diarrhea diseases in Korea. A total of 9,948 patient fecal samples were collected for one year from January to December 2018, and analyzed according to the guidelines for the management of waterborne and foodborne diseases. A total of 1,469 cases (detection rate; 14.8%) of acute diarrheal diseases were detected. Among them, 750 (7.5%) norovirus and 406 (4.1%) group A rotavirus cases were detected; accounting for 51% of the total detection rate. By age, it was detected at the age of 5 years or younger, and the highest was 37.6%. Norovirus, a pathogen that is generally understood to exhibit wintertime seasonality, measured high detection rates in January (14.7%), February (14.5%) and December (13.4%), 2018. The most prevalent genotypes of viral pathogens detected were GII.4 for norovirus and F41 for enteric adenovirus and astrovirus, and sapovirus were the most prevalent in type 1 and GI groups, respectively. According to this study’s findings, in order to prevent the spread of pathogens and reduce the number of mass outbreaks, continuous and systematic monitoring, early diagnosis and in-depth analysis are necessary.

• Noncommunicable Disease Statistics 2020-01-23

  0 78 22

  Trends in the percentage of Korean people who eat out more than once a day, 2008-2018

  Public Health Weekly Report 2020; 13(4): 210-211

  

  

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