Epidemiological Characteristics of Re-emerging Vivax Malaria in the Republic of Korea (1993–2017)
10.3347/kjp.2018.56.6.531
- Author:
Young Yil BAHK
1
;
Hyeong Woo LEE
;
Byoung Kuk NA
;
Jeonga KIM
;
Kyoung JIN
;
Yeong Seon HONG
;
Tong Soo KIM
Author Information
1. Department of Biotechnology, College of Biomedical and Health Science, Konkuk University, Chungju 27478, Korea.
- Publication Type:Review
- Keywords:
Plasmodium vivax;
re-emerging malaria;
control;
mosquito;
vector
- MeSH:
Communicable Diseases;
Culicidae;
Democratic People's Republic of Korea;
Global Health;
Government Programs;
Humans;
Korea;
Malaria;
Malaria, Vivax;
Parasitic Diseases;
Plasmodium vivax;
Population Characteristics;
Public Health;
Republic of Korea
- From:The Korean Journal of Parasitology
2018;56(6):531-543
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Historically, Plasmodium vivax malaria has been one of the most highly endemic parasitic diseases in the Korean Peninsula. Until the 1970s, vivax malaria was rarely directly lethal and was controlled through the Korean Government Program administered by the National Malaria Eradication Service in association with the World Health Organization's Global Malaria Eradication Program. Vivax malaria has re-emerged in 1993 near the Demilitarized Zone between South and North Korea and has since become an endemic infectious disease that now poses a serious public health threat through local transmission in the Republic of Korea. This review presents major lessons learned from past and current malaria research, including epidemiological and biological characteristics of the re-emergent disease, and considers some interesting patterns of diversity. Among other features, this review highlights temporal changes in the genetic makeup of the parasitic population, patient demographic features, and spatial distribution of cases, which all provide insight into the factors contributing to local transmission. The data indicate that vivax malaria in Korea is not expanding exponentially. However, continued surveillance is needed to prevent future resurgence.
