PHWR Public Health Weekly Report

Vol.15 No.7, February 17, 2022 Article TypeCOVID-19 Special ReportEpidemiology and SurveillanceNoncommunicable Disease StatisticsOriginal Articles

• COVID-19 Special Report 2022-02-17

  0 118 70

  Analysis of the time from exposure to the diagnosis of Omicron infection to establish the ideal duration of quarantine for traced contacts

  Hye Ryeon Lee, Ryu Kyung Kim, Jia Kim, Ji Joo Lee, Hye Young Lee, Hanul Park, Eun Jung Jang, Young-Joon Park, Mi Young Kim, Jin Su Song, Jihee Lee, Jeonghee Yu, Eun-young Kim, Hyoseon Jeong, Jae-Hwa Chung, Moonsu Kim, Seonggon Kim, Hanna Yoo, Seo young Kim, Hwa-Pyeong Ko, Chang-Hwan Noh, Hyun jeong Ahn, Mi-young Go, Mi Jin, Won Ick Kim, Bu Sim Lee

  Public Health Weekly Report 2022; 15(7): 408-413

  

  

  Abstract

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  The Omicron variant was designated as a variant of concern (VOC) by World Health Organization (WHO) on November 27, 2021. Immediately, the Republic of Korea (ROK) began monitoring the incidence of infections caused by the Omicron variant around the world, as well as the importation and incidence of the variant in the ROK. In the ROK, the first Omicron case was confirmed in Incheon at the end of November. It spread to the community through the patient’s acquaintances, family, and church. There was also a patient arrived in Honam with confirmed disease who spread the virus throughout the community through the daycare center in Jeonbuk, the daycare center in Jeonnam, and family gatherings. The authorities promptly began contact tracing in response. The government established an “Emerging variant response taskforce” to facilitate countermeasures. Such act was conducted in other to prevent the importation of the Omicron variant and community spread in the country.
  Fifty-six patients, including family members, acquaintances, and church members, were traced to the index imported case in Incheon on November 24, 2021. Fifty-one patients contracted the virus from the Honam arrival, through the daycare center in Jeonbuk, the daycare center in Jeonnam, and family gatherings. The date of final exposure has been confirmed and analyzed. General characteristics of patients were analyzed, and the time from final exposure to a close contact diagnosis with the infection were calculated.
  The mean time from final exposure to diagnosis was 3.7 days, with a median of 3 days and a quartile range of 2–5 days. Among 107 subjects, 50% were definitively diagnosed 3 days after final exposure, and 70% were confirmed as being infected by day 5. The current mandatory quarantine period is of 14 days. The analysis shows that 106 (99.1%) cases could have been identified even within a 10-day quarantine.
  These results present scientific evidence to alter the current duration of quarantine (surveillance) for contacts exposed to the Omicron variant. The findings may be supportive in updating guidelines and devising policies for preventing the spread of the Omicron variant.

• Epidemiology and Surveillance 2022-02-17

  0 125 131

  Two-year report of COVID-19 outbreak from January 20, 2020 to January 19, 2022 in the Republic of Korea

  Sungchan Yang, Jinhwa Jang, Shin Young Park, Seon Hee Ahn, Seong-Sun Kim, Su Bin Park, Boyeong Ryu, Seon-Yeong Lee, Eunjeong Shin, Na-Young Kim, Myeongsu Yoo, Jonggul Lee, Taeyoung Kim, Ae Ri Kang, Donghyok Kwon

  Public Health Weekly Report 2022; 15(7): 414-426

  

  

  Abstract

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  This is a report of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) confirmed cases reported via an integrated system according to Article 11 of the Infectious Disease Prevention and Management Act and epidemiological investigations conducted by central and local health authorities from January 20, 2020 to January 19, 2022. There were a total of 705,900 COVID-19-confirmed cases, including 22,305 cases imported from abroad, from January 20, 2020 to January 19, 2022. Among those cases, 498,772 (70.7%) and 199,105 (28.2%) occurred in the metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas, respectively. There were 6,480 deaths, and the fatality rate was 0.9%. Among confirmed cases, the highest infection rate was noted in 20-29-year-olds (15.2%), and the fatality rate was the highest in individuals aged over 80 years. The main infection routes were contact with previously confirmed cases (302,758, 42.9%); under investigation (211,739, 30.0%); other clusters, including hospitals and nursing homes (121,800, 21.4%); imported cases (22,305, 3.2%); and linked to imported cases (571, 0.1%). Despite various efforts such as introduction of vaccines and therapeutic agents to epidemic prevention authorities, new COVID-19 variants have been continuously appearing and global diffusion tendency has been maintained for a long duration. As a result, contrast is required by making individual epidemic prevention rules routine and improving the continuous medical response system so that the number of confirmed patients does not rapidly increase.

• Epidemiology and Surveillance 2022-02-17

  0 128 70

  Animal models for influenza pandemic risk assessment

  Chi-Kyeong Kim, Hye-Jun Jo, Yongjun Choi, JeeEun Rhee, Eun-Jin Kim

  Public Health Weekly Report 2022; 15(7): 427-434

  Abstract

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  Influenza virus is a familiar human pathogen that continues to pose a threat to public health. The use of animal models in influenza research is indispensable for understanding the virulence of the pathogen. In particular, mammal models have been used in various fields of research, such as preclinical testing of antiviral drugs and vaccines that are use to reduce morbidity and mortality. In addition, these models are critical for understanding the viral and host factors, transmission, and the development of therapeutics to combat the virus. In this study, we describe the advantages and disadvantages of using mice, ferrets, and guinea pigs as models for the study of influenza viruses with pandemic potential. In addition, considerations and limitations of the use of animal models are discussed.

• Original Articles 2022-02-17

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  Comparisons of the characteristics, initial treatment, rehabilitation therapy and long-term functional outcomes of first-ever stroke patients over a 10-year period: The KOSCO Study

  Yun-Hee Kim, Won Hyuk Chang, Seyoung Shin, Doo-na Cho, Deog Young Kim, Yong Wook Kim, Dae Hyun Kim, Ji-hyun Park, Jongmin Lee, Hyun-Haeng Lee, Min Kyun Sohn, Sung-Ju Jee, Sam-Gyu Lee, Min-Keun Song, Yong-il Shin, Sung-Hwa Ko, Ji-Hong Min, Yang-Soo Lee, Yu-Sun Min, Ae-Ryoung Kim, Min Cheol Joo, Ji-hee Kim, Gyung-Jae Oh, Young-Hoon Lee, So Young Lee, Jun Hee Han, Jeonghoon Ahn, Soo Mi Choi, Jeesoo Seo, Seon Kui Lee

  Public Health Weekly Report 2022; 15(7): 435-449

  

  

  Abstract

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  The incidence of stroke has increased, and most stroke survivors are left with some degree of residual disability, which places a significant burden on patients, caregivers, and the society. Development of structured stroke care requires long-term assessment of functional outcomes to identify the factors that influence residual disability and quality of life in stroke survivors.
  The Korean Stroke Cohort for Functioning and Rehabilitation (KOSCO) is a multi-center, prospective, longitudinal study conducted to investigate the survival and recurrence rates, functional status, mood, and quality of life of patients who have suffered ischemic or hemorrhagic strokes based on face-to-face assessments and interviews. In this study, we also conducted rehabilitation intervention studies to investigate the effects of early intensive rehabilitation therapies on long-term functional outcomes, and analyzed the cost-effectiveness of early intensive rehabilitation therapy in first-ever stroke patients.
  Of the 10,636 patients who had suffered their first-ever stroke and who were admitted to 9 hospitals in Korea between August 2012 and May 2015, 7,858 patients agreed to participate in the follow-up study and were enrolled in the 1^st Korean Stroke Cohort. The 2^nd Korean Stroke Cohort conducted beteween January and December 2020 and included 2,413 patients who agreed to participate in the follow-up study out of the 4,065 patients examined. The clinical and early treatment characteristics of stroke patients differed between the 1^st and 2^nd Korean Stroke Cohorts, reflecting socio-environmental changes such as aging and medical insurance coverage of stroke care.
  Patients in the 2^nd Korean Stroke Cohort patients had a significantly higher mean age, higher prevalence of metabolic syndrome and higher previous functional level than those in the 1^st Korean Stroke Cohort. In addition the rate of admission to stroke unit increased among patients in the 2^nd Korean Stroke Cohort, and the number of patients who received interventional and rehabilitation treatment during the initial hospital reatment increased. Overall, functional outcomes at six months after stroke onset were better in the 2^nd Korean Stroke Cohort. In addition, a multiple regression analysis showed that intensive rehabilitation treatment and pneumonia during the initial hospitalization were significant modifiable factors at three months after stroke onset.
  These results provide useful information for establishing a comprehensive and structured stroke care system and national policy development for better management of stroke patients.

• Noncommunicable Disease Statistics 2022-02-17

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  Trends in the gap between Metropolitan cities in perceived stress, 2011-2020

  Public Health Weekly Report 2022; 15(7): 450-451

  

  

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