PHWR Public Health Weekly Report

Vol.18 No.47, December 04, 2025 Article TypeOriginal ArticlesSurveillance Reports

• Surveillance Reports 2025-12-04

  0 68 63

  Individual Malaria Case and Case Cluster Status in the Capital Region of the Republic of Korea, 2024

  Mijeong Ko , YUN JEONG SEO , Hyunmi Kim , Kyungwon Hwang

  Public Health Weekly Report 2025; 18(47): 1867-1885 https://doi.org/10.56786/PHWR.2025.18.47.1

  

  

  Abstract

  Full Text Cite Share

  Objectives: We analyzed malaria cases and cluster outbreaks in the capital city between 2022 and 2024 to provide baseline data to guide effective prevention and response strategies.
  Methods: All malaria cases reported in the Integrated Disease Control Information System between January 1, 2022, and December 31, 2024, were included. Annual trends, demographics, regional distributions, and case clusters were analyzed. Clusters were defined as multiple cases occurring within 14 days and within 1 km of suspected infection sites based on 2024 Malaria management guidelines. Spatial analysis was conducted using QGIS version 3.34.
  Results: In 2024, 620 malaria cases were reported in the capital city, representing 94.1% of total cases nationwide. This number represents a slight decrease from 2023, but a 78.7% increase from 2022. A total of 47 case clusters were identified, including five (10.6%) in military units. Clusters were concentrated in high-risk areas near the North Korean border, especially in northwestern Gyeonggi, Ganghwa-gun, and Incheon. Primary risk factors included residence (57.8%), work (12.9%), military service in high-risk areas (12.9%), and outdoor leisure activities including travel and exercise.
  Conclusions: The post-coronavirus disease 2019 rise in malaria incidence is linked to resumption of social activities and enhanced surveillance. The capital region remains the focal point of domestic transmission, highlighting the need for regional and population-specific control measures. Targeted strategies for military personnel and outdoor workers are critical to achieve Korea’s national malaria elimination by 2030 goal.

• Surveillance Reports 2025-12-04

  0 54 11

  Diagnostic and Treatment Status of Severe Fever with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome in a Patient Cohort in 2022–2024

  Minyun Kim , JeeSu Han , Hyeongyeong Lee , Jaehyun Seong , So-Young Lee , Seongman Bae , Yang Soo Kim Jungyeon Kim

  Public Health Weekly Report 2025; 18(47): 1886-1905 https://doi.org/10.56786/PHWR.2025.18.47.2

  

  

  Abstract

  Full Text Cite Share

  Objectives: Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) is a notifiable category III infectious disease caused by the SFTS virus (Dabie bandavirus), with a high fatality rate of 18.5% in the Republic of Korea (ROK). Further clinical studies are required to establish evidence for patient management in the absence of vaccines or antiviral therapies. However, as approximately 200 sporadic cases occur annually nationwide, obtaining a sufficient sample size for research remains challenging. This study established a multicenter cohort across 23 hospitals to investigate the diagnostic processes, treatment statuses, and clinico-epidemiological characteristics of patients with SFTS in ROK.
  Methods: This multicenter registry study was conducted between March 2022 and December 2024 across 23 hospitals and included both prospective and retrospective cohorts. Clinical data and biospecimens from the enrolled patients were collected and analyzed to evaluate diagnostic and therapeutic patterns.
  Results: A total of 311 patients (100 prospective; 211 retrospective) were enrolled, accounting for 15% of all reported cases nationwide (n=2,065). Laboratory confirmation was achieved in 98.4% (306/311) of patients through regional public health laboratories. The median interval from symptom onset to diagnosis was 7 days (interquartile range [IQR], 4–10 days), and 3 days (IQR 1–5 days) from hospital admission to diagnosis. Among confirmed cases, 52.1% (162/311) received treatment, most commonly plasmapheresis, followed by steroids, ribavirin, and intravenous immunoglobulin.
  Conclusions: This multicenter cohort study characterized the diagnostic and therapeutic patterns of patients with SFTS in ROK. The findings provide essential data for the development of diagnostic tools and therapeutic strategies and highlight the importance of continued multicenter clinical research on SFTS.

• Original Articles 2025-12-04

  0 49 9

  Optimization of Cell Culture for Human Adenovirus Isolation and Propagation

  Dongju Kim , Jeong-Min Kim , SangHee Woo , Nam-Joo Lee , Il-Hwan Kim , Eun-Jin Kim

  Public Health Weekly Report 2025; 18(47): 1906-1917 https://doi.org/10.56786/PHWR.2025.18.47.3

  

  

  Abstract

  Full Text Cite Share

  Objectives: This study aimed to establish the optimal cell culture conditions for the isolation and characterization of human adenovirus (HAdV), a causative agent of respiratory infections.
  Methods: HAdV types 3, 5, and 7 were used to determine the optimal culture conditions of HAdV in three cell lines: HeLa, A549, and Vero. Based on these optimized conditions, virus isolation was attempted using 66 HAdV-positive clinical specimens of various serotypes collected by the Korea Respiratory viruses Integrated Surveillance System.
  Results: Cell culture experiments for HAdV showed that the HeLa cells incubated at 34℃ supported the highest level of viral replication, as confirmed by real-time PCR (polymerase chain reaction). Using these optimized conditions, 11 HAdV types were isolated from clinical specimens. Of the 66 specimens tested, 65 showed successful viral growth with an isolation rate of 98.5%.
  Conclusions: This study successfully established optimized cell culture conditions for isolating HAdV strains. The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency will continue to secure biological resources by isolating and culturing various pathogens to support further characterization and follow-up research.