In 2023, the Republic of Korea’s Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) enhanced its event-based surveillance practices by using the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Epidemic Intelligence from Open Sources (EIOS) to actively screen and share information about potential public health threats to the country. This report describes the preliminary assessment of the results of implementing these enhanced event-based surveillance activities from June to October 2023. During this period, 425 (0.4%) events were detected globally by the KDCA from 99 945 media articles, with the highest frequency reported in Asia (185, 43.5%) and North America (81, 19.1%). The most frequently reported diseases or conditions were dengue fever (111, 26.1%) and mpox (32, 7.5%). Eight events were detected early by the KDCA using EIOS before being officially listed on WHO’s Event Information Site (EIS) or in Disease Outbreak News (DON), with an average interval of 20 days (range: 5–41) between the detection date and posting on EIS or DON. Thus, EIOS is efficient in aiding early detection of potential public health threats at the national level. This finding highlights the importance of sustaining international cooperation and support to enhance surveillance capabilities in resource-limited settings and expanding the scope of EIOS, including by incorporating additional sources and sources in additional languages, reducing noise. However, as the current report is based on a descriptive analysis, in the future a systematic evaluation of event-based surveillance using EIOS to identify relevant attributes will need to be conducted.

Objectives: This study aimed to summarize the results of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) risk assessments and to examine the associations between risk levels and various indicators, including COVID-19 incidence, risk perception, community mobility, and government policy. Methods: The results of the risk assessment and the indicators utilized were summarized. From November 2021 to May 2022, the COVID-19 risk level was evaluated on a weekly basis, and its correlation with these indicators was analyzed. Data were obtained from press releases by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, regular surveys conducted by Hankook Research, and information available on the Google and Oxford websites. Results: Weekly risk assessments were conducted for 30 weeks, using different indices depending on the phases. Correlation analysis revealed the strongest positive correlation between risk level and risk perception (r=0.841). The risk level from “1-week lead” demonstrated a strong positive correlation with the time-varying reproduction number (Rt). Similarly, the risk level from “week lagged value” showed a strong positive correlation with the number of severe cases in the hospital. Conclusion At the time of risk assessment, the Rt precedes the risk level, while severe cases in hospitals follow. Therefore, the assessed risk level functioned as an early warning system. Risk perception demonstrated the strongest correlation with the risk level, suggesting consistency throughout the assessment period. Contextual indicators (e.g., risk perception) that consider time lags and implementation scales, could improve the evaluation of future risk assessment results, particularly when there are challenges in reflecting specific situations in coordinated emergency response.

Objectives: This study aimed to summarize the results of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) risk assessments and to examine the associations between risk levels and various indicators, including COVID-19 incidence, risk perception, community mobility, and government policy. Methods: The results of the risk assessment and the indicators utilized were summarized. From November 2021 to May 2022, the COVID-19 risk level was evaluated on a weekly basis, and its correlation with these indicators was analyzed. Data were obtained from press releases by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, regular surveys conducted by Hankook Research, and information available on the Google and Oxford websites. Results: Weekly risk assessments were conducted for 30 weeks, using different indices depending on the phases. Correlation analysis revealed the strongest positive correlation between risk level and risk perception (r=0.841). The risk level from “1-week lead” demonstrated a strong positive correlation with the time-varying reproduction number (Rt). Similarly, the risk level from “week lagged value” showed a strong positive correlation with the number of severe cases in the hospital. Conclusion At the time of risk assessment, the Rt precedes the risk level, while severe cases in hospitals follow. Therefore, the assessed risk level functioned as an early warning system. Risk perception demonstrated the strongest correlation with the risk level, suggesting consistency throughout the assessment period. Contextual indicators (e.g., risk perception) that consider time lags and implementation scales, could improve the evaluation of future risk assessment results, particularly when there are challenges in reflecting specific situations in coordinated emergency response.

Objectives: This study aimed to summarize the results of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) risk assessments and to examine the associations between risk levels and various indicators, including COVID-19 incidence, risk perception, community mobility, and government policy. Methods: The results of the risk assessment and the indicators utilized were summarized. From November 2021 to May 2022, the COVID-19 risk level was evaluated on a weekly basis, and its correlation with these indicators was analyzed. Data were obtained from press releases by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, regular surveys conducted by Hankook Research, and information available on the Google and Oxford websites. Results: Weekly risk assessments were conducted for 30 weeks, using different indices depending on the phases. Correlation analysis revealed the strongest positive correlation between risk level and risk perception (r=0.841). The risk level from “1-week lead” demonstrated a strong positive correlation with the time-varying reproduction number (Rt). Similarly, the risk level from “week lagged value” showed a strong positive correlation with the number of severe cases in the hospital. Conclusion At the time of risk assessment, the Rt precedes the risk level, while severe cases in hospitals follow. Therefore, the assessed risk level functioned as an early warning system. Risk perception demonstrated the strongest correlation with the risk level, suggesting consistency throughout the assessment period. Contextual indicators (e.g., risk perception) that consider time lags and implementation scales, could improve the evaluation of future risk assessment results, particularly when there are challenges in reflecting specific situations in coordinated emergency response.

Objectives: This study aimed to summarize the results of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) risk assessments and to examine the associations between risk levels and various indicators, including COVID-19 incidence, risk perception, community mobility, and government policy. Methods: The results of the risk assessment and the indicators utilized were summarized. From November 2021 to May 2022, the COVID-19 risk level was evaluated on a weekly basis, and its correlation with these indicators was analyzed. Data were obtained from press releases by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, regular surveys conducted by Hankook Research, and information available on the Google and Oxford websites. Results: Weekly risk assessments were conducted for 30 weeks, using different indices depending on the phases. Correlation analysis revealed the strongest positive correlation between risk level and risk perception (r=0.841). The risk level from “1-week lead” demonstrated a strong positive correlation with the time-varying reproduction number (Rt). Similarly, the risk level from “week lagged value” showed a strong positive correlation with the number of severe cases in the hospital. Conclusion At the time of risk assessment, the Rt precedes the risk level, while severe cases in hospitals follow. Therefore, the assessed risk level functioned as an early warning system. Risk perception demonstrated the strongest correlation with the risk level, suggesting consistency throughout the assessment period. Contextual indicators (e.g., risk perception) that consider time lags and implementation scales, could improve the evaluation of future risk assessment results, particularly when there are challenges in reflecting specific situations in coordinated emergency response.

Objectives: This study aimed to summarize the results of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) risk assessments and to examine the associations between risk levels and various indicators, including COVID-19 incidence, risk perception, community mobility, and government policy. Methods: The results of the risk assessment and the indicators utilized were summarized. From November 2021 to May 2022, the COVID-19 risk level was evaluated on a weekly basis, and its correlation with these indicators was analyzed. Data were obtained from press releases by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, regular surveys conducted by Hankook Research, and information available on the Google and Oxford websites. Results: Weekly risk assessments were conducted for 30 weeks, using different indices depending on the phases. Correlation analysis revealed the strongest positive correlation between risk level and risk perception (r=0.841). The risk level from “1-week lead” demonstrated a strong positive correlation with the time-varying reproduction number (Rt). Similarly, the risk level from “week lagged value” showed a strong positive correlation with the number of severe cases in the hospital. Conclusion At the time of risk assessment, the Rt precedes the risk level, while severe cases in hospitals follow. Therefore, the assessed risk level functioned as an early warning system. Risk perception demonstrated the strongest correlation with the risk level, suggesting consistency throughout the assessment period. Contextual indicators (e.g., risk perception) that consider time lags and implementation scales, could improve the evaluation of future risk assessment results, particularly when there are challenges in reflecting specific situations in coordinated emergency response.

Objectives: This study was conducted to determine the impact of the strengthening or relaxation of face covering mandates on the subsequent national case incidence of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Europe as the full vaccination rate was increasing. Methods: European countries in which case incidence increased for 3 consecutive weeks were monitored and analyzed using COVID-19 incidence data shared by the World Health Organization (WHO). The epidemic trend of COVID-19 in Europe was compared with that of countries elsewhere in the world based on WHO weekly epidemiological reports from June 20 to October 30, 2021. In addition, this study provided insight into the impact of government mask mandates on COVID-19 incidence in Europe by measuring the index scores of those facial covering policies before and after mandate relaxation or strengthening. The effects of the vaccination rate and the speed of vaccination on COVID-19 incidence were also analyzed. Results: The incidence of COVID-19 after the relaxation of face covering mandates was significantly higher than before relaxation. However, no significant difference was observed in vaccination rate between countries with increased and decreased incidence. Instead, rapid vaccination delayed the resurgence in incidence. Conclusion The findings suggest that face covering policies in conjunction with rapid vaccination efforts are essential to help mitigate the spread of COVID-19.

OBJECTIVE: Despite successful efforts to shorten the door-to-balloon time in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), pre-hospital delayremains a problem. We evaluated the factors related to pre-hospital delay using the Jeonbuk regional cardiovascular center database. METHODS: From 2010 to 2013, a total of 384 STEMI patients were enrolled. We analyzed the onset time, door time, and balloon time, and the patients were grouped according to pre-hospital delay (120 minutes). Clinical and socio-demographic variables were compared. RESULTS: 53.2% of patients had prolonged onset-to-door time (median 130, interquartile range [IQR] 66~242 minutes), and 68.5% of patients did not achieve <120 minute of total ischemic time (median 175, IQR 110~304 minutes). Pre-hospital delay was more frequent in patients with old age, female, no local residence, low education level, transfer via other hospital and no use of emergency squad (119). Only 20% of patients used 119, and 119 team responded in a prompt manner (call to scene time 6 min), but 41.6% of patients was transported to non-PCI-capable hospitals. Multivariate analysis revealed that transfer via other hospital [Odds ratio (OR) 2.5, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.6-4.1, p<0.001), use of 119 (OR 0.4, 95% CI 0.2-0.6, p<0.001), age >60 years (OR 1.8, 95% CI 1.1-3.0, p=0.031) and hypertension (OR 1.9, 95% CI 1.2-2.9, p=0.047) were independent predictors of pre-hospital delay. CONCLUSIONS: The present study demonstrated a significant pre-hospital delay in the treatment of STEMI patients in the Province of Jeonbuk. Public campaigns and education are needed to raise the public awareness of STEMI and the use of 119.
Education ; Emergencies ; Emergency Medical Services ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Jeollabuk-do* ; Multivariate Analysis ; Myocardial Infarction* ; Time-to-Treatment

BACKGROUND: In a rapidly aging population, the importance of the quality of life of the elderly has been emphasized. The need for special care services according to an individual's physical, emotional, and social functions changes with aging. This study was conducted to analyze the needs of home dwellers in terms of health-care services for active aging. METHODS: The study subjects were 869 adults older than 40 years who lived in houses. They responded to a survey that inquired about the importance of each health-care item for active aging at home. The important items for active aging at home were graded by using a 5-point Likert scale. RESULTS: Among the items, "affection" topped the list, with 4.68 points, followed by cognitive function (4.67 points) and "social relations" (4.59 points). The top 3 items had no significant differences between the age groups. However, some items related to activities of daily living (ADL; including bathing, eating, and ambulating.) and instrumental ADL (IADL; including taking medicines and preparing meals) had significant differences between the age groups. Compared with the subjects in the older age groups, the subjects in the forties age group placed less importance on ADL and IADL. CONCLUSION: For the subjects who lived in houses, affection, cognitive function, and social relation are highly important for as active aging, regardless of age. ADL and IADL are regarded as more important in ≥50 years age groups.
Activities of Daily Living ; Adult ; Aged ; Aging* ; Baths ; Delivery of Health Care* ; Eating ; Humans ; Quality of Life

Immunoglobulin G4-related sclerosing cholangitis (IgG4-SC) is a rare disease characterized by increased serum levels of IgG4 and dense infiltration of IgG4-positive plasma cells with fibrosis in the bile duct wall. IgG4-SC is frequently associated with autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP) and typically shows an excellent response to steroid therapy. Despite recent progress in understanding the clinical presentation of IgG4-SC, its diagnosis still remains a challenge, particularly if it manifests as an isolated hilar stricture with normal serum IgG4 concentrations. In this article, we report the case of a 75-year-old man with IgG4-SC in whom it was difficult to distinguish hilar cholangiocarcinoma due to the normal serum IgG4 concentration and no accompanying AIP. He had an indolent clinical course and showed slow progression of a bile duct lesion over 6 years.
Aged ; Bile Ducts ; Cholangiocarcinoma ; Cholangitis, Sclerosing* ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Diagnosis ; Fibrosis ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin G ; Immunoglobulins ; Pancreatitis ; Plasma Cells ; Rare Diseases