HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in Web of Science Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Web of Science (11) Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by PARK, J.-W. Articles by CHOE, K.-W. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by PARK, J.-W. Articles by CHOE, K.-W.

VIVAX MALARIA: A CONTINUING HEALTH THREAT TO THE REPUBLIC OF KOREA

Vivax malaria reemerged in the Republic of Korea in 1993. Most of the cases occurred among soldiers in the region adjacent to the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) until 1995. To determine the rate of dispersion of vivax malaria, we evaluated its epidemiologic characteristics. Of 13,903 cases of vivax malaria reported in 2000, 40.1% (5,577) were reported among Republic of Korea military personnel, 26.2% (3,641) among veterans discharged less than two years from the military, and 33.7% (4,685) among civilians. Cases of vivax malaria have rapidly increased annually among counties bordering the DMZ, and have spread to approximately 40 km south of the DMZ. Chemoprophylaxis administered to military personnel may have been responsible for the decreasing number of cases among the Republic of Korea military population. The first mosquito-transmitted cases appeared in early June. Therefore, chemoprophylaxis should be instituted in early April to reduce the number of infected mosquitoes. Extensive intervention is warranted to reduce the spread of vivax malaria in the Republic of Korea.

Received October 30, 2002. Accepted for publication March 10, 2003.

Acknowledgments: We thank the medial officers in the Republic of Korea Armed Forces Medical Command who generously assisted in the collection of the malaria epidemiologic data. We also thank Gordon W. Nam, Dr. Steven Richards, and Dr. Byung-Chul Yu for their critical review of the manuscript, and Hye-Jin Kim for drawing the maps.

Authors’ addresses: Jae-Won Park, Department of Microbiology, Gachon Medical School, 1198 Kuwol-dong, Namdong-gu, Inchon 405-760, Republic of Korea. Terry A. Klein, Hee-Choon Lee, and Laura A. Pacha, Preventive Services Directorate, 18th Medical Command, Unit 15281, APO AP 96205-5281 and Eighth U.S. Army Community Hospital, APO AP 96205-5281, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea. Seung-Ho Ryu, Center for Health Promotion, Kangbuk Samsung Hospital, 108 Pyung-dong, Chongno-gu, Seoul 110-746, Republic of Korea. Joon-Sup Yeom, Department of Internal Medicine, Kangbuk Samsung Hospital, 108 Pyung-dong, Chongno-gu, Seoul 110-746, Republic of Korea. Seung-Hwan Moon, Undergraduate School of Medical College, Seoul National University, 28 Yongon-dong, Chongno-gu, Seoul 110-799, Republic of Korea. Tong-Soo Kim, Laboratory of Medical Zoology, Department of Virology, National Institute of Health, Seoul 122-701, Republic of Korea. Jong-Yil Chai, Department of Parasitology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul 110-799, Republic of Korea. Myoung-Don Oh and Kang-Won Choe, Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, 28 Yongon-dong, Chongno-gu, Seoul 110-799, Republic of Korea and Clinical Research Institute, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul 110-744, Republic of Korea, Telephone: 82-2-760-2945, Fax: 82-2-762-9662, E-mail: mdohmd{at}snu.ac.kr

Reprint requests: Myoung-Don Oh, Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, 28 Yongon-dong, Chongno-gu, Seoul 110-744, Republic of Korea, Telephone: 82-2-760-2945, Fax: 82-2-762-9662, E-mail: mdohmd{at}snu.ac.kr

This article has been cited by other articles:

				S. W. Lee, M. Lee, D. D. Lee, C. Kim, Y.-J. Kim, J.-Y. Kim, M. D. Green, T. A. Klein, H. C. Kim, H. Nettey, et al. Biological Resistance of Hydroxychloroquine for Plasmodium vivax Malaria in the Republic of Korea Am J Trop Med Hyg, October 1, 2009; 81(4): 600 - 604. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				G. Jun, J.-S. Yeom, J.-Y. Hong, E-H. Shin, K.-S. Chang, J.-R. Yu, S. Oh, H. Chung, and J.-W. Park Resurgence of Plasmodium vivax Malaria in the Republic of Korea during 2006-2007 Am J Trop Med Hyg, October 1, 2009; 81(4): 605 - 610. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				K. S. Lee, T. H. Kim, E. S. Kim, H.-S. Lim, J.-S. Yeom, G. Jun, and J.-W. Park Chloroquine-resistant Plasmodium vivax in the Republic of Korea Am J Trop Med Hyg, February 1, 2009; 80(2): 215 - 217. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J.-S. YEOM, T.-S. KIM, S. OH, J.-B. SIM, J.-S. BARN, H.-J. KIM, Y.-A KIM, S.-Y. AHN, M.-Y. SHIN, J.-A. YOO, et al. PLASMODIUM VIVAX MALARIA IN THE REPUBLIC OF KOREA DURING 2004-2005: CHANGING PATTERNS OF INFECTION Am J Trop Med Hyg, May 1, 2007; 76(5): 865 - 868. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J.-S. YEOM, S.-H. RYU, S. OH, W.-J. LEE, T.-S. KIM, K.-H. KIM, Y.-A KIM, S.-Y. AHN, J.-E. CHA, and J.-W. PARK STATUS OF PLASMODIUM VIVAX MALARIA IN THE REPUBLIC OF KOREA DURING 2001-2003 Am J Trop Med Hyg, September 1, 2005; 73(3): 604 - 608. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				E.-T. HAN, T.-E. SONG, J.-H. PARK, E.-H. SHIN, S.-M. GUK, T.-Y. KIM, and J.-Y. CHAI ALLELIC DIMORPHISM IN THE MEROZOITE SURFACE PROTEIN-3{alpha} IN KOREAN ISOLATES OF PLASMODIUM VIVAX Am J Trop Med Hyg, December 1, 2004; 71(6): 745 - 749. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]