PHWR Public Health Weekly Report

Vol.13 No.9, February 27, 2020 Article TypeEpidemiology and SurveillanceNoncommunicable Disease Statistics

• Epidemiology and Surveillance 2020-02-27

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  Interim Epidemiological and clinical characteristic of COVID-19 28 cases in South Korea

  Hyun Junghee, Lee Jung Hyun, Park Youngjoon, Jung Eun Kyeong

  Public Health Weekly Report 2020; 13(9): 464-474

  

  

  Abstract

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  From January 20^th, 2020 to February 14^th, 2020, a total of 28 cases of acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2), a temporary moniker for the virus responsible for COVID-19, emerged after the first confirmed case was reported in Korea. To continue management and treatment of SARS CoV-2 and other emerging infectious diseases, the purpose of this paper was to analyze and share the insight gained from these 28 cases. In terms of methodology, epidemiological and initial characteristics were analyzed using the report from the epidemiology investigation team of the COVID-19 National Emergency Response Center of the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC). In addition, KCDC field reports from patient monitoring, epidemiologic investigations, and quarantine management were used.
  There were 15 male cases (53.6%) and 13 female cases (46.4%). The average age was 42.6 and the ages ranged from 20-73-years of age. Of the 28 cases, 16 (57.1%) were imported index cases; 11 cases (68.8%) visited Wuhan, China, 1 case visited Zhuhai, China (6.3%), 2 cases visited Singapore (12.5%), 1 case visited Japan (6.3%), and 1 case visited Thailand (6.3%). 9 cases (32.1%) reported initial symptoms of fever or heat sensation, 9 cases (32.1%) reported having a sore throat, 5 cases (17.9%) reported having a cough or sputum, 5 cases (17.9%) reported having the chills, and 4 cases (14.3%) reported having general muscle pain. There were 3 asymptomatic cases (10.7%) and 18 confirmed cases (64.3%) were diagnosed with pneumonia after admission.
  This paper found that seven infected individuals with confirmed paths of infection were family members (70.0%), and three individuals were acquaintances (30.0%): 1 case was exposed in a restaurant (10.0%), 1 case was exposed at church (10.0%), and 1 case was exposed at another location (10.0%). In other words, these individuals were infected through prolonged exposure, such as sharing common living areas and meals. This paper found that, to date, Korean patients with COVID-19 were identified as 2ndgeneration cases starting from imported index cases, but there were no cases that were not confirmed by epidemiological relevance. Most of the early symptom’s of the patients were mild, asymptomatic, and infectious. Since it was determined that 1^st and 2^nd generation cases were infected through prolonged close contact, this paper suggested that it is important to establish early detection strategies for COVID-19 based on these epidemiological characteristics.

• Epidemiology and Surveillance 2020-02-27

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  Characteristics of Imported Infectious Diseases, The Republic of Korea, 2011-2018: Analysis of Surveillance Data

  Kim Eun Young, Chu Chaeshin, Lee Jia, Shin Een Suk, Lee Seon Kui

  Public Health Weekly Report 2020; 13(9): 475-488

  Abstract

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  As international trade and travel increases, the risks of imported diseases and epidemics of infectious diseases continue to rise. The purpose of this study was to analyze the characteristics of imported infectious diseases and to provide travel health information. To that end, data collected by the Korean National Infectious Disease Surveillance System from 2011 to 2018 of imported infectious diseases was used. Findings indicated that the main imported infectious disease were dengue fever, followed by malaria, and shigellosis. Additional findings highlighted that the incidence rate per 100,000 travelers was high among Asian countries. This study was timely and meaningful because it confirmed the surveillance characteristics of imported infectious diseases over the last eight years.

• Noncommunicable Disease Statistics 2020-02-27

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  Trends in the prevalence of periodontal diseases, 2008-2018; Trends in the prevalence of dental caries for permanent teeth, 2008-2018

  Public Health Weekly Report 2020; 13(9): 489-492

  

  

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