OBJECTIVES The purpose of this study was to establish a basis for improving or strengthening the preventive strategy against scrub typhus in Korea by comparing and analyzing the difference of prevention behaviors contributing to the occurrence of scrub typhus in Japan and Korea.
METHODS
The survey was carried out in Jeollabuk-do, which is a high risk and high incidence area, and Fukuoka Prefecture, which is a high risk and low incidence area. The study included 406 Korean farmers and 216 Japanese farmers. Data were collected through face-to-face surveys by interviewers who had completed standardized education.
RESULTS
Korean farmers have a higher percentage of agricultural working posture that involved contact with weeds than Japanese farmers (p<0.05). The frequency and proportion of weeding were lower in Korean farmers than in Japanese farmers (p<0.05). The level of knowledge about scrub typhus was significantly higher among Korean farmers than among Japanese farmers (p<0.05). Mostly, the behavior of agriculture work was more appropriate for Japanese farmers than for Korean farmers (p<0.05). The total average level of agricultural work was lower in Korea than in Japan, lower in men than women, and lower in part-time farmers than full-time farmers (p<0.05).
CONCLUSIONS
This study suggests that it is reasonable to develop and provide a program that can improve the level of preventive behavior taking into consideration the characteristics of the subject in order to reduce the incidence of diseases in high-risk areas for scrub typhus.
Summary
Korean summary
이 연구는 쯔쯔가무시증 발생 위험은 공통으로 존재하나 발생률 및 발생 건수에서는 현저한 차이를 나타내는 한·일 농업인들의 털진드기 매개체에 대한 접촉과 관련된 행태나 환경 관리의 차이를 파악하였다. 연구결과 한국은 일본에 비해 환경관리 수준이 낮고, 풀숲과 접촉할 수 있는 농작업 자세를 더 취하고 있었으며, 쯔쯔가무시증에 대한 지식 수준은 높으나 예방행태 수행 수준은 낮았다. 이 연구는 한국의 농업인들의 쯔쯔가무시증 발생을 억제하기 위해서는 예방행태를 향상시킬 수 있는 프로그램 개발과 제공이 필요함을 제시하고 있다.
Citations
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Epidemiological Aspects of Tsutsugamushi Disease (Scrub Typhus) Outbreaks in Republic of Korea and Japan Myeong-Jin Lee, Bok Soon Han, Won-Chang Lee, Young Hwan Kwon The Korean Journal of Aerospace and Environmental Medicine.2022; 32(2): 65. CrossRef
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Orientia tsutsugamushi dynamics in vectors and hosts: ecology and risk factors for foci of scrub typhus transmission in northern Thailand Ivo Elliott, Neeranuch Thangnimitchok, Kittipong Chaisiri, Tri Wangrangsimakul, Piangnet Jaiboon, Nicholas P. J. Day, Daniel H. Paris, Paul N. Newton, Serge Morand Parasites & Vectors.2021;[Epub] CrossRef
The estimated burden of scrub typhus in Thailand from national surveillance data (2003-2018) Tri Wangrangsimakul, Ivo Elliott, Supalert Nedsuwan, Rawadee Kumlert, Soawapak Hinjoy, Kittipong Chaisiri, Nicholas P. J. Day, Serge Morand, Husain Poonawala PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases.2020; 14(4): e0008233. CrossRef
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OBJECTIVES Scrub typhus is the most common febrile disease in Korea during the autumn. Jeju Island is the largest island in South Korea and has a distinctive oceanic climate. This study aimed to identify epidemiologic characteristics of scrub typhus on Jeju Island.
METHODS
From January 2011 to December 2016, 446 patients were diagnosed with scrub typhus on Jeju Island. The patients’ personal data and the environmental factors that might be related to scrub typhus were investigated and retrospectively analyzed.
RESULTS
The median age of the patients was 58-years-old (range, 8 to 91) and 43% of them worked in the agricultural, forestry or livestock industry. Regardless of their job, 87% of the patients had a history of either working outdoors or of other activities before developing scrub typhus. The south and southeast regions of Jeju Island, especially Namwon-eup, showed the highest incidence of scrub typhus. Workers in mandarin orange orchards seemed to be the highest risk group for scrub typhus infection.
CONCLUSIONS
Scrub typhus on Jeju Island showed unique characteristics. To efficiently prevent scrub typhus, each year individual regional approaches should be developed based on the epidemiologic characteristics of the disease.
Summary
Korean summary
쯔쯔가무시증은 진드기에 의해 감염되는 대표적인 가을철 발열성 질환이다. 제주 지역에서 발생하는 쯔쯔가무시증의 역학적 특성을 분석한 결과 제주도의 남, 남동쪽이 다발생 지역으로 나타났다. 또한 이 지역의 감귤 농업이 쯔쯔가무시증이 발생할 수 있는 주요 위험요인인 것으로 추정된다.
Citations
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Estimation of scrub typhus incidence and spatiotemporal multicomponent characteristics from 2016 to 2023 in Zhejiang Province, China Haocheng Wu, Ming Xue, Chen Wu, Qinbao Lu, Zheyuan Ding, Xinyi Wang, Tianyin Fu, Ke Yang, Junfen Lin Frontiers in Public Health.2024;[Epub] CrossRef
Re-emergence of scrub typhus in Zhejiang Province, southern China: A 45-year population-based surveillance study Jiangping Ren, Jimin Sun, Zhengting Wang, Feng Ling, Xuguang Shi, Rong Zhang, Ying Liu, Zhiping Chen, Enfu Chen Travel Medicine and Infectious Disease.2019; 32: 101427. CrossRef
Distribution of Chigger Mites as Tsutsugamushi Vectors Sampled in Seogwipo Hyeok Jae Lee, Chul Park The Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science.2019; 51(3): 344. CrossRef
Epidemiologic characteristics of scrub typhus on Jeju Island Sung Uk Lee Epidemiology and Health.2018; 39: e2017060r. CrossRef
Awareness and Work-Related Factors Associated with Scrub Typhus: A Case-Control Study from South Korea Dong-Seob Kim, Dilaram Acharya, Kwan Lee, Seok-Ju Yoo, Ji-Hyuk Park, Hyun-Sul Lim International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health.2018; 15(6): 1143. CrossRef
Epidemiological characteristics of scrub typhus on the Jeju Island Jong-Myon Bae Epidemiology and Health.2017; 39: e2017060. CrossRef
ONJECTIVE: This study was carried out to investigate the epidemiologic characteristics and magnitudes of scrub typhus (tsutsugamushi disease) in Gyeongsangbuk-do, Korea.
METHODS
Resources of data collected were epidemiologic surveillance report to public health centers on each disease occurrence. The authors reviewed 344 epidemiologic surveillance reports for cases of scrub typhus developed in Gyeongsangbuk-do, Korea from Jan 1, 1999 to Dec 31, 2001.
RESULTS
The scrub typhus cases were 376 during three year period, and the incidence was significantly higher in the county area than in the city area. Incidence of scrub typhus was increasing each year. In 344 epidemiologic surveillance reports, the job of the cases was farmer (67.2%), housewife (4.7%), clerk (3.5%). Two hundred ninety eight cases (86.6%) have experienced outdoor activities before development of the scrub typhus. The outdoor places of exposure were dry field (64.8%), rice field (51.7%), hill (12.8), and grass field (9.7%). The symptoms reported were fever (93.3%), headache (83.7%), chill (69.5%), and rash (54.4%).
CONCLUSIONS
Incidence of scrub typhus was increasing in Gyeongsangbuk-do, Korea, this phenomenon may be related to change of climate, the reporting rate of disease and outing activities. Good surveillance and adequate analysis of epidemiologic data is a essential for the prevention of the disease. With this result, high risk population was identified and effective intervention should be done to prevent the disease.