PHWR Public Health Weekly Report

Vol.17 No.47, December 05, 2024 Article TypeEditorialOutbreak ReportsQuickStatsReview & Perspective

• Editorial 2024-12-05

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  Analysis of the Public Health Weekly Report Papers Released during Public Health Crises

  Sun-Kyung Baek , Hee Jae Lee , Hee-Bin Park , Eunyoung Lee , Eunsuk Ahn , Younjhin Ahn , Bo Youl Choi *

  Public Health Weekly Report 2024; 17(47): 2019-2034 https://doi.org/10.56786/PHWR.2024.17.47.1

  Abstract

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  Since the launch of the Public Health Weekly Report in 2008, domestic and international public health crises have occurred. The aim of this paper was to identify the role of Public Health Weekely Report by analyzing articles published during public health crises. Influenza A (H1N1) pdm09 spread in 2009 a total of 25 related articles were published and mainly reported on overseas and domestic infection cases. In 2014, when the Ebola virus disease was declared an international public health crisis, one article related to Ebola vaccine development was published. In 2015, when the first imported case of Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) was reported in the Republic of Korea (ROK), no articles were published during the MERS cluster outbreak. In 2016, when patients with Zika virus infection disease were reported in ROK, four articles related to quarantine measures and case reports were published. During the course of the coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) pandemic period (2020–2023), 150 articles were published. In the early stage, the main topics of related articles were COVID-19 outbreak trends and epidemiological investigation results. Subsequently, detailed reports on vaccination, adverse reactions, variants, and cluster outbreaks emerged. We confirmed that by responding to such public health crises, ROK’s quarantine system has developed with a focus on subdivided and sophisticated investigation, surveillance, and analysis competencies. The Public Health Weekly Report will help safeguard public health by promptly providing timely information on infectious diseases, including their clinical, epidemiological, and microbiological characteristics, based on surveillance, epidemiological investigations, surveys, and laboratory research during public health crises.

• Outbreak Reports 2024-12-05

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  Results of the Tuberculosis Epidemiological Investigation Conducted at a Community Self-sufficiency Center

  Jieun Jung , Aejung Lee , Jin Kim , Hayoung Park , Hyekyung In *

  Public Health Weekly Report 2024; 17(47): 2035-2049 https://doi.org/10.56786/PHWR.2024.17.47.2

  Abstract

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  Tuberculosis (TB) is a respiratory infection caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis, which is transmitted through the air. When an individual with infectious TB is identified, prompt epidemiological investigations are crucial for identifying other patients with TB and individuals with latent tuberculosis infections (LTBIs). Early identification allows for the prevention of active TB through timely treatment. This study shares the contact investigation methods and LTBI treatment outcomes in patients at community self-sufficiency centers, and proposes preventive measures such as regular TB screening. In February 2023, a TB case was reported at a community self-sufficiency center in the Honam region of the Republic of Korea. Investigation of 50 contacts revealed one additional TB patient (2.0%) and 17 cases of LTBI (44.7% of 38 individuals tested). Community self-sufficiency centers primarily serve socio-economically vulnerable groups, including medical benefit recipients. The incidence of TB among these individuals is higher than that in the general population. Prolonged education and work in enclosed spaces within these facilities may facilitate TB transmission.

• Review & Perspective 2024-12-05

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  Comparison of Chronic Disease Surveillance Systems in the Republic of Korea and Major Advanced Countries

  Hyung-Seop Sim , Bomgyeol Kim , Do Hee Kim , Tae Hyun Kim , Hopyeong Hwang

  Public Health Weekly Report 2024; 17(47): 2050-2073 https://doi.org/10.56786/PHWR.2024.17.47.3

  

  

  Abstract

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  Chronic diseases are among the leading causes of death; their rising prevalence is attributed to aging populations and Westernized lifestyles. Effective chronic disease surveillance systems are critical for providing public health data and shaping policies. In the Republic of Korea (ROK), chronic disease surveillance is conducted through various surveys; however, coordination between these systems is limited because each one is managed independently by a different agency. In contrast, major countries, such as the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom, operate integrated surveillance systems. These systems use well-coordinated data sources to produce various indicators, track trends over time, and generate regional and group-specific estimates. A comprehensive approach in these countries allows them to observe multiple dimensions of chronic diseases and health behaviors. ROK’s fragmented system struggles with integration, making it less efficient in tracking chronic disease trends. To build a more effective system, ROK should learn from the experiences of advanced countries by fostering stronger coordination with its surveillance systems. This approach would include integrating data sources and creating a centralized data portal for easy public access to chronic disease-related estimates, enabling more timely and effective public health responses.

• QuickStats 2024-12-05

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  Trends in the Prevalence of Anemia, 2013–2022

  Public Health Weekly Report 2024; 17(47): 2074-2075 https://doi.org/10.56786/PHWR.2024.17.47.4

  

  

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