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Epidemiology and Surveillance

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Public Health Weekly Report 2021; 14(38): 2687-2699

Published online September 16, 2021

© The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency

2020 Infectious Disease and Respiratory Infectious Disease Report, the Republic of Korea

Yu Daeun, Kang Changho, Yoon Seonghee, Cho Kyungsook

Division of Infectious Disease Policy Coordination, Bureau of Infectious Disease Policy, Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA)

Abstract

Sections

The number of reported cases of infectious disease in 2020 decreased by 13,530 cases (8.5%) compared to 159,496 cases in 2019, and the number of reported cases decreased by 46.6% year-on-year to 85,239 cases excluding emerging infectious disease syndrome (COVID-19). Including the reporting status of tuberculosis and AIDS, which are separately monitored, the number of reported cases of infectious diseases in 2020 was 166,717 cases, down 176,069 cases (9.5%) from 184,323 cases in 2019, and excluding COVID-19, the number of reported cases was 105,990 cases, down 42.5% from the previous year. Major infectious diseases with increased number of reported cases include brucellosis, VRSA, Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli and vibrio sepsis, while varicella, measles, pertussis, mumps, scarlet fever and murine typhus decreased year-on-year.
Among category 2, the number of major respiratory infectious diseases such as tuberculosis, varicella and measles decreased 51.3% (2019, 131,458 cases) year-on-year to 64,067 cases, and the number of cases of foreign inflow infectious diseases (except COVID-19) decreased by 84.6% (2019, 755 cases) year-on-year to 116 cases. This is believed to have affected the occurrence of respiratory infectious diseases and foreign inflow infectious disease as more individuals are complying with personal hygiene rules such as washing hands and wearing masks due to COVID-19.
Therefore, even when the COVID-19 pandemic ends, we should continue following infectious disease prevention rules, especially personal hygiene rules, to make a society safe from infectious diseases.

Key words Infectious disease, Surveillance, Respiratory infectious disease, COVID-19

Sections
Table 1. Infectious disease notifications (Category 1)

unit: No. of notifications, %

Disease2011201220132014201520162017201820192020Year-on-year rate
Total0001185001160,728-
Botulism00010000110
Emerging infectious disease syndrome00000000060,727N/A
Middle East Respiratory Syndrome. MERS----18500100-

Data: KDCA. Infectious Disease Surveillance Yearbook. 2021.

Table 2. Infectious disease notifications (Category 2)

unit: No. of notifications, %

Disease2011201220132014201520162017201820192020Year-on-year rate
Total88,52577,57095,761112,818111,548119,606159,485174,566164,87986,768△47.4
Tuberculosis39,55739,54536,08934,86932,18130,89228,16126,43323,82119,933△16.3
Varicella36,24927,76337,36144,45046,33054,06080,09296,46782,86831,430△62.0
Measles4231074427187151946△96.9
Cholera3030045210△100.0
Typhoid fever1481291562511211211282139439△58.5
Paratyphoid fever565854374456734755585.4
Shigellosis171902941108811311219115129△80.7
Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli7158611117110413812114627084.9
Viral hepatitis A5,5211,1978671,3071,8044,6794,4192,43717,5983,989△77.3
Pertussis972303688205129318980496123△75.2
Mumps6,1377,49217,02425,28623,44817,05716,92419,23715,9679,922△37.8
Rubella5328181111117082△75.0
Meningococcal disease7465661714165△68.7
Haemophilus influenzae type b--00003201N/A
Pneumococcal disease---36228441523670526345△34.4
Hansen's disease7576243643△25.0
Scarlet fever4069683,6785,8097,00211,91122,83815,7777,5622,300△69.5
VRSA*------0039200.0
CRE†------5,71711,95415,36918,11317.8
Viral Hepatitis E---------191N/A

* Vancomycin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus infection, †Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae infection

Data: KDCA. Infectious Disease Surveillance Yearbook. 2021.

Table 3. Infectious disease notifications (Category 3)

unit: No. of notifications, %

Disease2011201220132014201520162017201820192020Year-on-year rate
Total8,00111,08713,01310,89012,44614,80620,40921,07419,44319,221△1.1
Tetanus19172223222434313130△3.2
Viral hepatitis B462289117173155359391392389382△1.7
Japanese encephalitis32014264028917347△79.4
Viral hepatitis C------6,39610,8119,81011,84920.7
Malaria826542445638699673515576559385△31.1
Legionellosis2825213045128198305501368△26.5
Vibrio vulnificus sepsis5164566137564647427066.6
Murine typhus234119915181816141△92.8
Scrub typhus5,1518,60410,3658,1309,51311,10510,5286,6684,0054,47911.8
Leptospirosis49285058104117103118138114△17.3
Brucellosis1917168546518700
Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome370364527344384575531433399270△32.3
AIDS (and HIV infection)8888681,0131,0811,0181,0601,0089891,006818△18.6
CJD % vCJD*2945346533433854536420.7
Dengue fever7214925216525531317115927343△84.2
Q fever81011827819616316269△57.4
Lyme Borreliosis23111392731232318△21.7
Melioidosis1022442281△87.5
Chikungunya fever002121053161△93.7
SFTS†--3655791652722592232438.9
Zika virus infection-----1611331△66.6
SyphilisPrimary6905625667267201,0671,4541,5711,176--
Secondary235199210258253481684680554--
Congenital402622313321102923--

*Creutzfeldt-Jacob disease & Variant Creutzfeldt-Jacob disease, †Severe Fever with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome

Data: KDCA. Infectious Disease Surveillance Yearbook. 2021.

Table 4. Infectious disease incidence rate

unit: Incidence rate* (per 100,000 population)

19701980199020002005200920102011201220132014201520162017201820192020
94.921.514.693.927.71502.6192.4114.6101.3148.4181.0185.7201.5295.5329.1307.7281.6

*The number of annual reports divided by the number of people registered for resident registration in the current year

Data: KDCA. Infectious Disease Surveillance Yearbook. 2021.

Table 5. Reported cases of respiratory infectious disease

unit: n, %

Disease2017201820192020Change from
the previous
year (%)		3-year average
(2017-2019)		Change from
the 3-year (%)
Category 2148,890159,595131,45864,067△51.3120,509△56.3
Tuberculosis28,16126,43323,82119,933△16.326138△23.7
Varicella80,09296,46782,86831,430△62.186,476△63.7
Measles7151946△96.972△91.7
Pertussis318980496123△75.2598△79.4
Mumps16,92419,23715,9679,922△37.817,376△42.9
Rubella7-82△75.05△60.0
Neisseria meningitidis1714165△68.716△68.1
Haemophilus influenza type b32-1-2△40.0
Streptococcus pneumoniae523670526345△34.4573△39.8
Scarlet fever22,83815,7777,5622,300△69.515,392△85.1
Category 470,44293,402101,08324,260△76.088,309△72.5
Acute respiratory infections*70,44293,402101,08324,260△76.088,309△72.5

*Adenovirus infection, Human Bocavirus Infection, Parainfulenza virus infection, Respiratory syncytial virus infection, Rhinovirus infection, Human metapneumovirus infection, Human coronavirus infection, Pneumococcal disease, Hemophilus influenza infection, Mycoplasma infection, Chlamydia infection

Data: KDCA. Infectious Disease Surveillance Yearbook. 2021.

Table 6. Status of countries of foreign inflow infectious disease

unit: n, %

AsiaAmericaEuropeOthersTotal
1,826
(33.2)		1,651
(30.0)		1,432
(26.1)		586
(10.7)		5,495
(100.0)

Data: KDCA. Infectious Disease Surveillance Yearbook. 2021.

Figure 1. Infectious disease notifications in the last two years (Category 2, 3)
Data: KDCA. Infectious Disease Surveillance Yearbook. 2021.

Figure 2. Incidence rate of infectious disease by year
Data: KDCA. Infectious Disease Surveillance Yearbook. 2021.

References

Sections
  1. 질병관리청. 2021. 2020 감염병감시연보. http://www.kdca.go.kr/npt
  2. 질병관리청. 지난해 코로나19 외 주요 감염병 46.6% 감소: 질병관리청, 2020년 감염병 감시연보 발간. 2021. 8. 13.
  3. 질병관리청. 2020 지역사회건강조사 (2021).
  4. Tirupathi R., Bharathidasan K., Palabindala V., et al. Comprehensive review of mask utility and challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic. Le Infezioni in Medicina 2020;Suppl. 1:57-63.
  5. Zeng N., Li Z., Ng S., et al. Epidemiology reveals mask wearing by the public is crucial for COVID-19 control. Medicine in Microecology 2020;4:100015. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.medmic.2020.100015
    KoreaMed CrossRef
  6. 질병관리청. 2020년 호흡기 전파 감염병 감시체계 운영 결과. 주간 건강과 질병 2021;14(18):1139-2249.
  7. 통계청. 국제선 여객자수 현황. https:/index.go.kr/potal/main/EachDtlPageDetail.do?idx_cd=1255

Epidemiology and Surveillance

Public Health Weekly Report 2021; 14(38): 2687-2699

Published online September 16, 2021

Copyright © The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency.

2020 Infectious Disease and Respiratory Infectious Disease Report, the Republic of Korea

Yu Daeun, Kang Changho, Yoon Seonghee, Cho Kyungsook

Division of Infectious Disease Policy Coordination, Bureau of Infectious Disease Policy, Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA)

Abstract

The number of reported cases of infectious disease in 2020 decreased by 13,530 cases (8.5%) compared to 159,496 cases in 2019, and the number of reported cases decreased by 46.6% year-on-year to 85,239 cases excluding emerging infectious disease syndrome (COVID-19). Including the reporting status of tuberculosis and AIDS, which are separately monitored, the number of reported cases of infectious diseases in 2020 was 166,717 cases, down 176,069 cases (9.5%) from 184,323 cases in 2019, and excluding COVID-19, the number of reported cases was 105,990 cases, down 42.5% from the previous year. Major infectious diseases with increased number of reported cases include brucellosis, VRSA, Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli and vibrio sepsis, while varicella, measles, pertussis, mumps, scarlet fever and murine typhus decreased year-on-year.
Among category 2, the number of major respiratory infectious diseases such as tuberculosis, varicella and measles decreased 51.3% (2019, 131,458 cases) year-on-year to 64,067 cases, and the number of cases of foreign inflow infectious diseases (except COVID-19) decreased by 84.6% (2019, 755 cases) year-on-year to 116 cases. This is believed to have affected the occurrence of respiratory infectious diseases and foreign inflow infectious disease as more individuals are complying with personal hygiene rules such as washing hands and wearing masks due to COVID-19.
Therefore, even when the COVID-19 pandemic ends, we should continue following infectious disease prevention rules, especially personal hygiene rules, to make a society safe from infectious diseases.

Keywords: Infectious disease, Surveillance, Respiratory infectious disease, COVID-19

Body

Infectious disease notifications (Category 1)

unit: No. of notifications, %.

Disease2011201220132014201520162017201820192020Year-on-year rate
Total0001185001160,728-
Botulism00010000110
Emerging infectious disease syndrome00000000060,727N/A
Middle East Respiratory Syndrome. MERS----18500100-

Data: KDCA. Infectious Disease Surveillance Yearbook. 2021..

Infectious disease notifications (Category 2)

unit: No. of notifications, %.

Disease2011201220132014201520162017201820192020Year-on-year rate
Total88,52577,57095,761112,818111,548119,606159,485174,566164,87986,768△47.4
Tuberculosis39,55739,54536,08934,86932,18130,89228,16126,43323,82119,933△16.3
Varicella36,24927,76337,36144,45046,33054,06080,09296,46782,86831,430△62.0
Measles4231074427187151946△96.9
Cholera3030045210△100.0
Typhoid fever1481291562511211211282139439△58.5
Paratyphoid fever565854374456734755585.4
Shigellosis171902941108811311219115129△80.7
Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli7158611117110413812114627084.9
Viral hepatitis A5,5211,1978671,3071,8044,6794,4192,43717,5983,989△77.3
Pertussis972303688205129318980496123△75.2
Mumps6,1377,49217,02425,28623,44817,05716,92419,23715,9679,922△37.8
Rubella5328181111117082△75.0
Meningococcal disease7465661714165△68.7
Haemophilus influenzae type b--00003201N/A
Pneumococcal disease---36228441523670526345△34.4
Hansen's disease7576243643△25.0
Scarlet fever4069683,6785,8097,00211,91122,83815,7777,5622,300△69.5
VRSA*------0039200.0
CRE†------5,71711,95415,36918,11317.8
Viral Hepatitis E---------191N/A

* Vancomycin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus infection, †Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae infection.

Data: KDCA. Infectious Disease Surveillance Yearbook. 2021..

Infectious disease notifications (Category 3)

unit: No. of notifications, %.

Disease2011201220132014201520162017201820192020Year-on-year rate
Total8,00111,08713,01310,89012,44614,80620,40921,07419,44319,221△1.1
Tetanus19172223222434313130△3.2
Viral hepatitis B462289117173155359391392389382△1.7
Japanese encephalitis32014264028917347△79.4
Viral hepatitis C------6,39610,8119,81011,84920.7
Malaria826542445638699673515576559385△31.1
Legionellosis2825213045128198305501368△26.5
Vibrio vulnificus sepsis5164566137564647427066.6
Murine typhus234119915181816141△92.8
Scrub typhus5,1518,60410,3658,1309,51311,10510,5286,6684,0054,47911.8
Leptospirosis49285058104117103118138114△17.3
Brucellosis1917168546518700
Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome370364527344384575531433399270△32.3
AIDS (and HIV infection)8888681,0131,0811,0181,0601,0089891,006818△18.6
CJD % vCJD*2945346533433854536420.7
Dengue fever7214925216525531317115927343△84.2
Q fever81011827819616316269△57.4
Lyme Borreliosis23111392731232318△21.7
Melioidosis1022442281△87.5
Chikungunya fever002121053161△93.7
SFTS†--3655791652722592232438.9
Zika virus infection-----1611331△66.6
SyphilisPrimary6905625667267201,0671,4541,5711,176--
Secondary235199210258253481684680554--
Congenital402622313321102923--

*Creutzfeldt-Jacob disease & Variant Creutzfeldt-Jacob disease, †Severe Fever with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome.

Data: KDCA. Infectious Disease Surveillance Yearbook. 2021..

Infectious disease incidence rate

unit: Incidence rate* (per 100,000 population).

19701980199020002005200920102011201220132014201520162017201820192020
94.921.514.693.927.71502.6192.4114.6101.3148.4181.0185.7201.5295.5329.1307.7281.6

*The number of annual reports divided by the number of people registered for resident registration in the current year.

Data: KDCA. Infectious Disease Surveillance Yearbook. 2021..

Reported cases of respiratory infectious disease

unit: n, %.

Disease2017201820192020Change from
the previous
year (%)		3-year average
(2017-2019)		Change from
the 3-year (%)
Category 2148,890159,595131,45864,067△51.3120,509△56.3
Tuberculosis28,16126,43323,82119,933△16.326138△23.7
Varicella80,09296,46782,86831,430△62.186,476△63.7
Measles7151946△96.972△91.7
Pertussis318980496123△75.2598△79.4
Mumps16,92419,23715,9679,922△37.817,376△42.9
Rubella7-82△75.05△60.0
Neisseria meningitidis1714165△68.716△68.1
Haemophilus influenza type b32-1-2△40.0
Streptococcus pneumoniae523670526345△34.4573△39.8
Scarlet fever22,83815,7777,5622,300△69.515,392△85.1
Category 470,44293,402101,08324,260△76.088,309△72.5
Acute respiratory infections*70,44293,402101,08324,260△76.088,309△72.5

*Adenovirus infection, Human Bocavirus Infection, Parainfulenza virus infection, Respiratory syncytial virus infection, Rhinovirus infection, Human metapneumovirus infection, Human coronavirus infection, Pneumococcal disease, Hemophilus influenza infection, Mycoplasma infection, Chlamydia infection.

Data: KDCA. Infectious Disease Surveillance Yearbook. 2021..

Status of countries of foreign inflow infectious disease

unit: n, %.

AsiaAmericaEuropeOthersTotal
1,826
(33.2)		1,651
(30.0)		1,432
(26.1)		586
(10.7)		5,495
(100.0)

Data: KDCA. Infectious Disease Surveillance Yearbook. 2021..

Figure 1. Infectious disease notifications in the last two years (Category 2, 3)
Data: KDCA. Infectious Disease Surveillance Yearbook. 2021.

Figure 2. Incidence rate of infectious disease by year
Data: KDCA. Infectious Disease Surveillance Yearbook. 2021.

Fig 1.

Download
Figure 1.Infectious disease notifications in the last two years (Category 2, 3)
Data: KDCA. Infectious Disease Surveillance Yearbook. 2021.
Public Health Weekly Report 2021; 14: 2687-2699

Fig 2.

Download
Figure 2.Incidence rate of infectious disease by year
Data: KDCA. Infectious Disease Surveillance Yearbook. 2021.
Public Health Weekly Report 2021; 14: 2687-2699
Infectious disease notifications (Category 1)

unit: No. of notifications, %.

Disease2011201220132014201520162017201820192020Year-on-year rate
Total0001185001160,728-
Botulism00010000110
Emerging infectious disease syndrome00000000060,727N/A
Middle East Respiratory Syndrome. MERS----18500100-

Data: KDCA. Infectious Disease Surveillance Yearbook. 2021..
Infectious disease notifications (Category 2)

unit: No. of notifications, %.

Disease2011201220132014201520162017201820192020Year-on-year rate
Total88,52577,57095,761112,818111,548119,606159,485174,566164,87986,768△47.4
Tuberculosis39,55739,54536,08934,86932,18130,89228,16126,43323,82119,933△16.3
Varicella36,24927,76337,36144,45046,33054,06080,09296,46782,86831,430△62.0
Measles4231074427187151946△96.9
Cholera3030045210△100.0
Typhoid fever1481291562511211211282139439△58.5
Paratyphoid fever565854374456734755585.4
Shigellosis171902941108811311219115129△80.7
Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli7158611117110413812114627084.9
Viral hepatitis A5,5211,1978671,3071,8044,6794,4192,43717,5983,989△77.3
Pertussis972303688205129318980496123△75.2
Mumps6,1377,49217,02425,28623,44817,05716,92419,23715,9679,922△37.8
Rubella5328181111117082△75.0
Meningococcal disease7465661714165△68.7
Haemophilus influenzae type b--00003201N/A
Pneumococcal disease---36228441523670526345△34.4
Hansen's disease7576243643△25.0
Scarlet fever4069683,6785,8097,00211,91122,83815,7777,5622,300△69.5
VRSA*------0039200.0
CRE†------5,71711,95415,36918,11317.8
Viral Hepatitis E---------191N/A

* Vancomycin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus infection, †Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae infection.

Data: KDCA. Infectious Disease Surveillance Yearbook. 2021..
Infectious disease notifications (Category 3)

unit: No. of notifications, %.

Disease2011201220132014201520162017201820192020Year-on-year rate
Total8,00111,08713,01310,89012,44614,80620,40921,07419,44319,221△1.1
Tetanus19172223222434313130△3.2
Viral hepatitis B462289117173155359391392389382△1.7
Japanese encephalitis32014264028917347△79.4
Viral hepatitis C------6,39610,8119,81011,84920.7
Malaria826542445638699673515576559385△31.1
Legionellosis2825213045128198305501368△26.5
Vibrio vulnificus sepsis5164566137564647427066.6
Murine typhus234119915181816141△92.8
Scrub typhus5,1518,60410,3658,1309,51311,10510,5286,6684,0054,47911.8
Leptospirosis49285058104117103118138114△17.3
Brucellosis1917168546518700
Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome370364527344384575531433399270△32.3
AIDS (and HIV infection)8888681,0131,0811,0181,0601,0089891,006818△18.6
CJD % vCJD*2945346533433854536420.7
Dengue fever7214925216525531317115927343△84.2
Q fever81011827819616316269△57.4
Lyme Borreliosis23111392731232318△21.7
Melioidosis1022442281△87.5
Chikungunya fever002121053161△93.7
SFTS†--3655791652722592232438.9
Zika virus infection-----1611331△66.6
SyphilisPrimary6905625667267201,0671,4541,5711,176--
Secondary235199210258253481684680554--
Congenital402622313321102923--

*Creutzfeldt-Jacob disease & Variant Creutzfeldt-Jacob disease, †Severe Fever with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome.

Data: KDCA. Infectious Disease Surveillance Yearbook. 2021..
Infectious disease incidence rate

unit: Incidence rate* (per 100,000 population).

19701980199020002005200920102011201220132014201520162017201820192020
94.921.514.693.927.71502.6192.4114.6101.3148.4181.0185.7201.5295.5329.1307.7281.6

*The number of annual reports divided by the number of people registered for resident registration in the current year.

Data: KDCA. Infectious Disease Surveillance Yearbook. 2021..
Reported cases of respiratory infectious disease

unit: n, %.

Disease2017201820192020Change from
the previous
year (%)		3-year average
(2017-2019)		Change from
the 3-year (%)
Category 2148,890159,595131,45864,067△51.3120,509△56.3
Tuberculosis28,16126,43323,82119,933△16.326138△23.7
Varicella80,09296,46782,86831,430△62.186,476△63.7
Measles7151946△96.972△91.7
Pertussis318980496123△75.2598△79.4
Mumps16,92419,23715,9679,922△37.817,376△42.9
Rubella7-82△75.05△60.0
Neisseria meningitidis1714165△68.716△68.1
Haemophilus influenza type b32-1-2△40.0
Streptococcus pneumoniae523670526345△34.4573△39.8
Scarlet fever22,83815,7777,5622,300△69.515,392△85.1
Category 470,44293,402101,08324,260△76.088,309△72.5
Acute respiratory infections*70,44293,402101,08324,260△76.088,309△72.5

*Adenovirus infection, Human Bocavirus Infection, Parainfulenza virus infection, Respiratory syncytial virus infection, Rhinovirus infection, Human metapneumovirus infection, Human coronavirus infection, Pneumococcal disease, Hemophilus influenza infection, Mycoplasma infection, Chlamydia infection.

Data: KDCA. Infectious Disease Surveillance Yearbook. 2021..
Status of countries of foreign inflow infectious disease

unit: n, %.

AsiaAmericaEuropeOthersTotal
1,826
(33.2)		1,651
(30.0)		1,432
(26.1)		586
(10.7)		5,495
(100.0)

Data: KDCA. Infectious Disease Surveillance Yearbook. 2021..

References

  1. 질병관리청. 2021. 2020 감염병감시연보. http://www.kdca.go.kr/npt
  2. 질병관리청. 지난해 코로나19 외 주요 감염병 46.6% 감소: 질병관리청, 2020년 감염병 감시연보 발간. 2021. 8. 13.
  3. 질병관리청. 2020 지역사회건강조사 (2021).
  4. Tirupathi R., Bharathidasan K., Palabindala V., et al. Comprehensive review of mask utility and challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic. Le Infezioni in Medicina 2020;Suppl. 1:57-63.
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