• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.47 no.2
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• pp.61-66
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• 2022

Objectives: In the epidemiology of communicable diseases, the term epidemic period, also referred to as "wave" is often used in the general and academic milieu. A wave refers to a natural pattern of increase in the number of sick individuals, a defined peak, and then a decline in the number of cases. It implies a pattern of peaks and valleys after a particular peak is taken. The idea of epidemic waves is a useful tool for predicting the course as well as helping to accurately describe an epidemic. However, in many domestic and foreign news as well as in various research results in Korea, most of the reports either had no standard, were inaccurate, had a questionable classification of the period of the epidemic, or the basis for classification of a given wave was not presented. Methods: The author reviewed and organized related literature with epidemic wave. The author made several suggestions of an epidemic wave as follows. Results: To start with, it should be based on the number of incident cases in consideration of the size of the outbreak, then the period from the bottom to the peak and then reaching the next bottom; also, the period over a certain scale based on the number of incident cases; and the period according to the change in the major infection type (mutation-dominant species). In addition, according to the period of change in the vaccination rate (formation of herd immunity), as well as the content and duration of the intervention, that is, classification according to the applied quarantine stage. Furthermore, the classification of epidemic periods by the time-dependent reproduction number or time-varying reproduction number (Rt), and lastly the application of mathematical methodology. Conclusions: Therefore, classifying the epidemic period into generally known and accepted time frames is considered to be a very important task for future research analysis and development of intervention strategies.

• 한국환경농학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2009.07a
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• pp.240-272
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• 2009

Recently, as Foot and Mouth disease(FMD) outbreaks in South-East Asia, Taiwan, China, we cannot loose our tense to sustain our FMD free country status. And we have increasing possibility of disease inflow because of continual outbreaks of FMD type A, O and Asia 1 in neighbored countries, foreign visitor and foreign workers. So we have to be urgently ready for strengthen surveillance, early-report and early-diagnosis. So the most important things in epidemic control of livestock are co-work between central and local epidemic control office and field epidemic control. However, potential risk for FMD recurrence and sporadic occurrence of epidemic disease still threaten our livestock farmhouse, so we have to be ready for bio-security against these threatening. For these reasons, I will introduce the concept, etiology and epidemiology of disease and investment/ analysis of health management standard of main animals like cattle and pig which is applied to the inside and outside of country. With these references, we have to manage livestock health management thoroughly by establishing livestock health management standard and notifying special veterinarian and livestock farmer of these standard. Later on, prevention and quarantine of epidemic outbreak and establishing livestock health management standard should be undertaken primarily for sustainable growth and stability of livestock farm industry.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.19 no.12
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• pp.353-362
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• 2018

The national loss caused by the periodic livestock epidemic is very large. In addition, vehicle movement is the main cause of livestock epidemics in Korea. In this context, this study analyzed the relationship between the degree centrality of livestock facilities and the outbreak of infectious diseases. For this purpose, a livestock vehicle movement network was constructed using the facility entrance data provided by KAHIS. Afterwards, the centrality index was derived for each facility in the vehicle movement network and the mean centrality index of the epidemic and non-epidemic facilities were compared. The analysis results are summarized as follows. First, the degree centrality of epidemic facilities is significantly greater than non-epidemic facilities. As a result of the analysis of the entire period data and the period-based data, in most data, the degree centrality of facilities where livestock infectious diseases occurred was significantly greater than most non-occurrence facilities. Second, in the entire period data, the difference in degree centrality between the epidemic and non-epidemic facilities was smaller for HPAI than for FMD. On the other hand, no significant difference was found in the results of the analysis according to the divided period. The policy implications of the results are as follows. First, proactive management of facilities based on centrality is needed. Second, in the case of cloven-hoofed animal facilities, it is more urgent to introduce a management policy based on the degree centrality.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.18-22
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• 2016

Ethical considerations are essential in planning for and responding to outbreaks of infectious diseases. During the outbreak of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) in the Republic of Korea in 2015, serious challenges emerged regarding important ethical issues, such as transparency and the protection of privacy. The development of bioethics in Korea has been influenced by individualistic perspectives applied in clinical contexts, leading to a paucity of ethical perspectives relevant to population-level phenomena such as outbreaks. Alternative theories of public health ethics include the perspectives of relational autonomy and the patient as victim and vector. Public health actions need to incorporate clear and systematic procedures founded upon ethical principles. The MERS-CoV epidemic in Korea created significant public support for more aggressive early interventions in future outbreaks. This trend makes it all the more imperative for ethical principles and procedures to be implemented in future planning and responses to outbreaks in order to promote perceptions of legitimacy and civic participation.

• Korean Journal Plant Pathology
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.78-82
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• 1994

Unusually severe rice blast epidemic sweeped over the rice growing area in Gyeongnam Province and elsewhere in 1993. Leaf blast infection was reached to 33,133 ha, which is about 24.5% of total paddy area and neck blast infection was apparent throughout 4,421 ha. Major factors affecting such an unusual epidemic appeared to be as follow: Firstly, low temperature, frequent rainfall and coincidentally insufficient duration of sunshine through July and August; Secondly, most cultivars possessing low levels of field resistance were cultivated in wide areas: Thirdly, blast fungus population was enough for successive infection under optimum weather condition and most races distributed in field were able to infect most cultivars.

• Journal of the Korean Society of School Health
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.63-70
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• 2010

Purpose: To identify the need to reform in the crisis response of Health Teacher, School Nurse, in elementary school during epidemic outbreak of influenza H1N1. Methods: 139 elementary health teachers, school nurse, in seoul elementary school responded in the questionnaire, and we analysed by using frequency and percent, t-test, and paired t-test. Results: The Job status became 121% more 'during influenza H1N1 (flu) outbreak' than Job status of 'before outbreak'. The proportion of the flu-related duty among their daily workload was up to 77.5%. The administration-related workload of the flu-related duty was 30.8%. and students' health assessment including temperature measurement 18.7%. Furthermore, an impediment of usual daily work due to an increaed flu-related workload was 95.7%, and no alternative plan such as disposition of assistant labor force was 86.1%. Especially, an impediment of health education was 61.0%, so the major concern was the loss of health education. We compared average scores (a five-point Likert scale) of health teachers' work motivation, exhaustion, work relationship and Job management of 'during' with 'before' flu-outbreak. The difference range of 'during' minus 'before' work motivation score was from -0.4 points to -0.9; work exhaustion range from 1.8 to 1.9; the difficulty of relationship between students, school personnel, parents of students, and health teachers from 1.4 points to 1.3 points; and the consideration of changing Job, taking time off from the Job and retirement from 1.4 to 1.6 points. Conclusion: The health teachers had a heavy workload due to flu-outbreak. They also experienced the impediment of usual work implementation. However, there was a shortage of alternative plan such as disposition of an assistant labor force. Under their Job status like this, the health teachers' motivation score was decreased and work exhaustion was increased. Furthermore, they had a lot of relation difficulty with students and school personnel. Therefore, we suggested that in contrast to the usual Job status, there is a need to have a prepared response during school crisis like flu-outbreak such as improved response system in seoul metropolitan education office, simplification or dispersion of administrative work, and temporary call-center for simple inquiries or advices.

• Journal of Korean Clinical Nursing Research
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.179-188
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• 2017

Purpose: This study examined post-traumatic stress (PTS) and the factors affecting it among general hospital nurses after the MERS(Middle East Respiratory Syndrome) epidemic. Methods: Data were collected from 170 nurses who worked at general hospitals since the first reported MERS outbreak. The IES-R-K assessed PTS. Data were analyzed using SPSS. Results: The mean PTS level was 7.80 points (range: 0~88); 7.1% of the participants were at a high risk. Nurses who had been in contact with patients suspected or diagnosed with MERS had high post-traumatic levels; those who had been quarantined during the MERS outbreak had relatively higher PTS levels. Shift-work nurses had higher PTS levels than those with fixed working hours. Above charge' nurses stress levels were higher than staff nurses' stress levels. The results showed that factors including contact with an MERS-suspected or diagnosed patient, position at work, and working status of MERS-affected nurses explained 16% of the PTS. Among the main variables, nurses' above charge position was the greatest factor affecting PTS. Discussion: It is necessary to develop intervention studies and programs considering these variables. Furthermore, development and implementation of differentiated programs should be done considering the position of above charge nurses.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.211-216
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• 2003

An epidemic outbreak of food poisoning due to enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli(EHEC) occurred throughout Korea from May to September, 2003. Patients infected via contaminated school lunch foods were found mainly in Seoul and Gyeonggi province. As a result of this food poisoning, 36 patients were diagnosed as hemolytic uremic syndrome(HUS) up to mid-September, 2003 and five of them visited our hospital. Before the outbreak this year, we had experienced only 23 cases of HUS, including diarrhea associated (D+) and atypical (D-) forms, for the last 14 years, and there had been no case with pancreatic enzyme elevation. Unlike the past HUS cases, those of this year presented with severe abdominal pain and spiking elevation of pancreatic enzyme levels in 2 cases. We report 2 cases of transient pancreatitis combined with HUS in children during the epidemic outbreak in 2003 with a brief review of related literatures.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.291-297
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• 2021

Severe outbreaks of porcine epidemic diarrhoea virus (PEDV) have continued to re-emerge worldwide. Because of the high mortality rate of suckling piglets in PEDV outbreaks, the disease causes significant economic losses in the pig industry. The limited pre-existing immunity against this virus is thought to cause an explosive increase in infection in pig farms. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical symptoms of PEDV after intentional exposure (feedback). During the first few days of the outbreak in a breeding pig farm, 14 sows showed watery diarrhoea, and the disease subsequently spread rapidly throughout the barn. Pigs that were intentionally exposed to PEDV (n=251) showed watery diarrhoea (46.6%), reduced appetite (17.5%), and vomiting (6.0%). However, 75 exposed pigs (29.9%) showed no clinical signs of disease. Four weeks after the feedback challenge, 34 sows gave birth to litters of piglets, which survived with no diarrhoea. Five weeks after the start of the outbreak, PEDV was not detected in any of the examined samples, including environmental swabs. Thus, early diagnosis, prompt establishment of herd immunity, and strict application of biosecurity are good practices to reduce the mortality rates among new-born piglets and control economic losses in pig farms showing PEDV outbreaks.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 1997

The 37,000 holstein which had been raised in Jeju island were examined for the purpose of brucellosis detection and so on. We investigated the relationship between the farms showing positive outbreak and the number of examination, incubation period, and the outbreak rate of positive cattle. We endeavored to separate germs from brucellosis positive cattles blood and negative bulls semen against brucellosis serum test and concluded as follows. We intend to offer you institutional supplements and preventions of brucellosis for the future. 1. Outbreak of brucellosis could not lead the outbreak rate of positive cattle to decrease through 1-2 examination per year, For the past 4 years, the outbreak rate of brucellosis positive cattle had a tendency to show a gradual decrease through at least 5 examinations per year. 2. As we examined live-in cattle with positive cattle in mass outbreak farms for 9 months, we found out positive cattle every month. In a grazing land, the group of cattle producd enormous positive cattle in 9-12 months. 3. Annual brucellosis positive outbreak rate was 20-25% among live-in cattle with brucellosis positive cattle, but the rate might be 50-100% depending on extent of pollution. 4. 94's brucellosis examination showed that 200 positive cattle of 71,153 cattle and most of them were live-in cattle with confirmed brucellosis positive cattle. 5. 1 head of 200 positive cattle showed positivity against serum of bulls test and the rate of bulls was about 1%. 6. Brucellosis germ was separated from 2 cattle's semen among 52 negative bulls against brucellosis serum test and there was the one brucellosis positive cattle against tube agglutination of semen test, so the positive rate of brucellosis was 5.8%. 7. Brucellosis germ was not separated from 15 brucellosis positive cattle's blood.