• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.197-206
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• 2006

In March 2003, classical swine fever (CSF) infection was reported in a piggery located at Iksan city, Jeollabuk-do in Korea. Subsequently, a total of 72 infected farms were confirmed between March and December, 2003. Based on epidemiological investigation of the earlier confirmed infected farms, the source of infection was shown to be from a breeding farm. Targeted surveillance of 82 piggeries that had acquired pigs from this breeding farm showed 44 piggeries were infected with CSF virus. CSF virus was introduced into this breeding farm by movement of selected breeder pigs from its 12 contracted farms which were located in areas that had been affected by CSF epidemic in late 2002. CSF had then spread through out the country mainly by direct transmission through the sale and movement of pigs from this breeding farm. Consequently, 47 (62%) among 72 CSF affected farms were associated, directly and indirectly, with this breeding farm. This study showed that inadequate control for breeding farms and transport restriction in CSF outbreak areas resulted in the nationwide spread of CSF and the failure of the eradication campaign that has been underway for several years by the Korean animal hygiene authority as well as the fanners. Improvements of control policy through further research of the 2003 CSF epidemic will be needed to reestablish the Korean CSF eradication program in the future.

• Journal of Veterinary Science
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.38.1-38.24
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• 2020

African swine fever (ASF), caused by the ASF virus, a member of the Asfarviridae family, is one of the most important diseases in the swine industry due to its clinical and economic impacts. Since the first report of ASF a century ago, ample information has become available, but prevention and treatment measures are still inadequate. Two waves of epizootic outbreaks have occurred worldwide. While the first wave of the epizootic outbreak was controlled in most of the infected areas, the second wave is currently active in the European and Asian continents, causing severe economic losses to the pig industry. There are different patterns of spreading in the outbreaks between those in European and Asian countries. Prevention and control of ASF are very difficult due to the lack of available vaccines and effective therapeutic measures. However, recent outbreaks in South Korea have been successfully controlled on swine farms, although feral pigs are periodically being found to be positive for the ASF virus. Therefore, we would like to share our story regarding the preparation and application of control measures. The success in controlling ASF on farms in South Korea is largely due to the awareness and education of swine farmers and practitioners, the early detection of infected animals, the implementation of strict control policies by the government, and widespread sharing of information among stakeholders. Based on the experience gained from the outbreaks in South Korea, this review describes the current understanding of the ASF virus and its pathogenic mechanisms, epidemiology, and control.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.45-59
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• 2000

The present study was conducted to investigate the epidemiological properties of salmonellosis of poultry farms in Kyongbuk province during the relied from November 1998 to November 1999 And antibiotic susceptibility and biochemical characteristics of 120 Salmonella cultures isolated from chicken samples were also investigated. The results obtained through this study were summarized as follows, 1. Among 667,200 chickens of 31 flocks in 17 layer farms and 9 broiler farms, 61,350 chickens of 31 flocks were died with salmonellosis. The death rate of 25 farms varied from 0.1% to 75.0%, and the average death rate was 9.2%. 2. According to etiological agents, fowl typhoid was shown the most predominant outbreak among the salmonellosis during a year, which accounted for 8R.0%(22/25) of the total case 3. The serotypes of 120 Salmonella isolates were identified as 7 strains(5.8%) of S pullorum, 10 strains(8.4%) of S typhimurium and 103 strains(85.8%) of S gallinarum. 4. Most outbreak of fowl typhoid were prevalent on the layer chicken farms(77.1%), and the summer season(45.5%) also appeared the most hazardous season during the year. 5. It seemed that the Hyline breed(70.6%) was the most susceptible among the layer chicken breeds, and followed by Isabrown(23.5%), Tetra(5.9%) in order. 6. In layers, 76.4% of fowl typhoid occurred commonly from 14 to 40 weeks including the early laying peroid, but in broiler farms, all cases was outbreak within first second weeks. 7 All the strains of S pullorum were resistant to lincomycin(Lm), penicillin(Pm), and steptomycin(Sm), but sensitive to amikacin(Ak), ampicillin(Am), cephalothin(Ce), ciprofloxacin (CiP), chloramphenicol(Cm), colistin(Co), enrofloxacin(Enr), furazolidone(Fu), gentamicin(Gm), kanamycin(Km), neomycin(Nm), polymyxin(Po), and teracycline(Tc). All the strains of S typhimurium were resistant to Lm(100%), Pm(100%), Po(90%), and Sm(90%), but were sensitive to Ak, Am, Ce, CiP, Cm, Co, Enr, Fu, Gm, Km, Nm, and Tc. 8. Minimum inhibitory concentration(MIC) of 103 strains of S gallinarum were also evaluated and their patterns were much more variable than others. All the strains of S gallinarum were sensitive to Ak, Am, Ce, Cip, Cm, Enr, Fu, Km, and Nm, but resistant to Lm(100%), and Sm(100%), 99(96.1%) to Co, 83(80.6%) to Pm, and 83(80.6%) to Po, 55(53.4%) to Gm, and 33(32.0%) to Tc. 9. The multiple drug resistance patterns of 120 Salmonella strains were CoLmPmPo Sm pattern(34.2%), CoGmLmPmPoSmTc(20.8%), CoGmLmPmPoSm(13.3%), CoGmLmSm(7.5%), LmPmSm(7.5%), LmPm(6.7%), CoLmSmTc(3.3%),, CoGmLmSmTc(1.7%), GmLmSmTc(1.7%), CoGmLmPoSm(0.1%), LmPmPo(0.1%), CoLm Sm(0.1%), and LmSm(0.1%), in order.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.71-77
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• 2006

Purpose : Shigellosis is still an important cause of acute food-borne diarrheal diseases throughout the world. We investigated the transmission routes and clinical course through the outbreak of shigellosis in Mapo-Gu, Seoul. Methods : From October 7th to November 19th in 2005, Mapo-Gu public health center had referred 32 patients with confirmed or suspected shigellosis to the National Medical Center. We had investigated source of infection, epidemiology, laboratory findings, and clinical course of the cases occurred during this outbreak. Results : Among 32 patients, 24 patients had been confirmed with shigellosis, 8 patients had been diagnosed with suspected shigellosis. They ranged in age from 5 months to 12 years old and their mean age was 6.5 years. The clinical manifestations were as follows; diarrhea, fever, abdominal pain and asymptomatic condition. Symptoms had sustained for 3.7 days on the average. S. sonnei were cultured by rectal swab and founded to be resistant to ampicillin and TMP/SMX except to 3rd generation cephalosporin. After treatment with antibiotics such as cefixime and ceftriaxone or imipenem and conservative treatment with electrolyte and fluid replacement for 5~7 days, Stool cultures of the rectal swab grew no Shigella in these cases except 3 cases. Conclusion : An outbreak of shigellosis had occurred in a preschool and elementary school children. From the same results of antimicrobial susceptibility and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis patterns in this study, we suggest that the outbreak of shigellosis in this report had been originated from a single strain. According to all negative results about suspected food and water cultures, we couldn't find out source of infection. Through materials offerred by Mapo-Gu Public Health Center, we presumed the trasmission routes probably were person-to-person.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.90-96
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• 1997

Purpose : Recently a shift in hepatitis A incidence from children to adults has been well noted. We experienced under 15-years old 31 patients who presented hepatitis A infection. In order to prepare for the prevention on hepatitis A outbreak in the future, we studied the clinical and epidemiologic manifestations of these patients. Methods : We enrolled patients from July to December in 1996 (6 months) and evaluated the monthly incidence, geographical distribution, age and sex, and clinical manfestations, including laboratory fadings. Results : Many cases of hepatitis A occured in the summer months, especially August (16/31 cases). Most of patients (87%) were living in the Seo-Ku area (northwest district of the city). In age distribution, there were no cases under 3 years of age, 3 cases from 4~5 years, 13 cases from 6~10 years, 15 cases from 11~15 years. Clinical profiles showed that dark urine, nausea and vomiting, anorexia, abdominal pain, fever, and fatigue were the common presenting symptoms. The initial presenting laboratory tests included total bilirubin 3.3mg/dl, alkaline phosphatase of 856units/L, and serum asparate aminotransferase and alanine aminolransferase levels of 910IU/L and 1239IU/L, respectively. No patient presented atypical clinical courses or complications. Conclusions : Hepatitis A in children shows benign clinical features. This study showed that the possibility of another outbreak of Hepatitis A in the TaeJon area or elsewhere in the near future Korea will be possible. To prevent an outbreak we will be concerned about the anti-HAV IgG prevalance rate in children and preventive modalities including vaccination against hepatitis A.

• 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 Korean Biological Nursing Science
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.147-153
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• 2008

Purpose: Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) has become a major clinical problem and one of the major nosocomial pathogen worldwide. The aim of the study was to investigate the epidemiological characteristics of genotypes of MRSA isolated in the A-hospital ICU. Methods: In the period between December 2007 and May 2008, MRSA was isolated from ICU patients and its surrounding environment. Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) was conducted for the detection of MRSA gene. The incidence of MRSA in the clinical isolates of Staphylococcus aureus was examined by using a multiplex PCR. The spa gene of Staphylococcus aureus encodes protein A and is used for typing of MRSA. We used sequence typing of the spa gene repeat region to study the epidemiology of MRSA at a hospital. Results: Two different genotypes of MRSA were identified with 90 isolated from the patients and its surrounding environments in the ICU. Conclusion: This study may contribute to the development of effective strategies for preventing nosocomial infections. Genotyping may have more general application for the study of MRSA epidemic outbreak in hospital and community infection.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.161-171
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• 1993

Mycoplasma pneumoniae(M. pneumoniae) is a primary pathogene of the respiratory tract in children. Most studies of such pneumonia involve a group of admitted patients in hospital, usually with major medical illness. We retrospectively studied the epidemiologic and clinical feature of 105 patients with serologically proven M. pneumoigic pneumonia treated at Gwang-Yang Hospital during a epidemic period of Jun. 1993 to Dec. 1993. All cases of pneumonia developed in this period were also reviewed and compared with serologically proven group. The results were as follows. 1. There were 63 males and 42 females, and the male /female ratio was 1.5 : 1. 2. More than half(57%) of cases belonged to 5-9 years of age group, and mean age was 6.5 years old. 3. Mean age was steadily decreased as prevalence of mycoplasmal pneumonia had been subsided. 4. The date of index case was June 26th, and that of median case was 3 months after the index case. 5. A major determinant of the outbreak seemed to be the population density rather than the population size. 6. Recurrence and serious complication were not observed in this period. 7. All cases of pneumonia developed in this period might be attributed to M. pnemoniae. These epidemiologic and clinical characteristics would contribute to the prevention and diagnosis of mycoplasmal pneumonia.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Clinical Toxicology
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.1-6
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• 2019

Scombroid fish poisoning (SFP) is a form of histamine food poisoning caused by the ingestion of improperly stored fish. The term "scombroid" derives from the family name of the fish family first implicated, such as tuna and mackerel. On the other hand, non-scombroid fish species, such as sardine and herring, can also cause histamine poisoning. The histamine is converted from histidine by a bacterial enzyme in the causative fish. Because the symptoms of SFP can easily be confused with food allergies, it is believed to have been significantly under-reported. In 2016, an outbreak of SFP occurred among primary school students who had eaten yellowtail steak in Korea. The most common findings consisted of a rapid onset of flushing of the face and trunk, erythematous and urticarial rash, diarrhea, and headache occurring soon after consuming the spoiled fish. Usually, the course is self-limiting and antihistamines can be used successfully to relieve symptoms, but several life-threatening SFP cases have been reported. Clinical toxicologists should be familiar with SFP and have competency to make a differential diagnosis between fish allergy and histamine poisoning. SFP is a histamine-induced reaction caused by the ingestion of histamine-contaminated fish, whereas a fish allergy is an IgE-mediated reaction. This review discusses the epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis, treatment, and preventive measures of SFP.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.85 no.4
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• pp.320-331
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• 2022

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has become a major health burden worldwide, with over 450 million confirmed cases and 6 million deaths. Although the acute phase of COVID-19 management has been established, there is still a long way to go to evaluate the long-term clinical course or manage complications due to the relatively short outbreak of the virus. Pulmonary fibrosis is one of the most common respiratory complications associated with COVID-19. Scarring throughout the lungs after viral or bacterial pulmonary infection have been commonly observed, but the prevalence of post-COVID-19 pulmonary fibrosis is rapidly increasing. However, there is limited information available about post-COVID-19 pulmonary fibrosis, and there is also a lack of consensus on what condition should be defined as post-COVID-19 pulmonary fibrosis. During a relatively short follow-up period of approximately 1 year, lesions considered related to pulmonary fibrosis often showed gradual improvement; therefore, it is questionable at what time point fibrosis should be evaluated. In this review, we investigated the epidemiology, risk factors, pathogenesis, and management of post-COVID-19 pulmonary fibrosis.