• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.51 no.1
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• pp.47-53
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• 2018

The presence of pathogens in wild fish is a potential threat to the fish being raised nearby fish farm. Surveillance of these pathogens in the wild is, thus, highly important to keep fish in the farm safe from serious communicable diseases. Fish and crustacean were sampled 4 times at Soyang Lake in 2016. Pathogens for five reportable communicable diseases including KHVD (koi herpesvirus disease), SVC (spring viraemia of carp), EUS (epizootic ulcerative syndrome) and WSD (white spot disease), and parasites were investigated. In Soyang Lake, pale chub Zacco platypus was the most abundant. Forty seven pale chub, 8 Korea piscivorous chub Opsarichthys uncirostris, 3 oily shiner Sarcocheilichthys variegatus wakiyae and 2 crucian carp Cyprinus carassius were investigated for detection of target diseases of fish. Seventeen Caridina denticulata denticulata, 12 Oriental river prawn Macrobrachium nipponense and 1 Chinese mitten crab Eriocheir sinensis were used for detection of WSD. As the result, reportable communicable diseases were not detected in all the freshwater animals. Dactylogyrus was detected in Korea piscivorous chub. Copepoda was also detected in pale chub and Korea piscivorous chub. Metacercaria was detected in the pale chub sampled in September and October. Those were not metacercaria of liver fluke Clonorchis sinensis.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.45 no.5
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• pp.277-282
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• 2012

Field epidemiology involves the implementation of quick and targeted public health interventions with the aid of epidemiological methods. In this article, we share our practical experiences in outbreak management and in safeguarding the population against novel diseases. Given that cities represent the financial nexuses of the global economy, global health security necessitates the safeguard of cities against epidemic diseases. Singapore's public health landscape has undergone a systemic and irreversible shift with global connectivity, rapid urbanization, ecological change, increased affluence, as well as shifting demographic patterns over the past two decades. Concomitantly, the threat of epidemics, ranging from severe acute respiratory syndrome and influenza A (H1N1) to the resurgence of vector-borne diseases as well as the rise of modern lifestyle-related outbreaks, have worsened difficulties in safeguarding public health amidst much elusiveness and unpredictability. One critical factor that has helped the country overcome these innate and man-made public health vulnerabilities is the development of a resilient field epidemiology service, which includes our enhancement of surveillance and response capacities for outbreak management, and investment in public health leadership. We offer herein the Singapore story as a case study in meeting the challenges of disease control in our modern built environment.

• Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.1-9
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• 2016

Objectives: This review is to suggest strategies to reduce risk factors of non-communicable diseases (NCD) in South Korea. Methods: Prior research findings on the burden of NCD and associated risk factors and the effectiveness of intervention programs were reviewed. Strategies regarding the control of NCD risk factors were conceived. Results: The author presented research findings from the Global Burden of Disease study on the burden of non-communicable disease (NCD) and associated risk factors in South Korea. Strengths and limitations of population and high-risk strategies for preventing NCDs were introduced. The author also reviewed the evidence on the effectiveness of multiple cardiovascular risk factor interventions and community-based intervention programs on cardiovascular diseases conducted in industrialized countries. Finally, strategies to reduce NCD risk factors in South Korea were suggested. Conclusions: The evidence-based interventions and the importance of population strategies in NCD prevention were highlighted. The author indicated that strategies employed by unhealthy commodity industries to undermine effective public health policies and programs should be actively monitored. It has been suggested that effective high-risk strategies with ecological models to address social risks rather than medical risks among disadvantaged population should be further developed in South Korea.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Fundamentals of Nursing
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.371-379
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• 2008

Purpose: The objective of the present study was to develop and evaluate a legal communicable diseases (LCDs) electronic system for infection control. Method: The system was developed through the procedure of analysis, design, implementation, application and evaluation, and was applied within an OCS (order communication system). Results: As indicated by the main menu, the present system is composed of an improved perception system for enhancing perception of LCDs, LCDs identification system, and improved efficiency in the report system. Detailed items included in the main menu are introduction and log-in screen, pop-up window for checking the outbreaks of LCDs, decision making icon, electronic signature icon, electronic report form, email system, etc. The total number of reports was greater after the application of the system (n=99) than before (n=80), and the adequacy of report time was statistically significantly higher after application of the system (P<0.05) Conclusion: The present system suggests a new method for LCDs report and infection control, and is expected to be adopted by other medical institutions in the future.

• Child Health Nursing Research
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.291-298
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• 2009

Purpose: Effects of information on management practices for children suffering from respiratory communicable diseases and their parents were investigated. Methods: The experimental group consisted of 30 children who were in-patients suffering from a respiratory communicable disease and their parents. During their hospitalization, for 30 min each day, the children and their parents received education that included information about disease management including symptoms, prevention and environmental hygiene. The information was developed using illustrations and photoshop. The control group consisted of 30 children who were in-patients and their parents. They received the usual nursing care without any of the above education. The instruments used in this study were the bibliographies of respiratory disease management. ${\chi}^2$ test, independent t-test, and Mann-Whitney U test with SPSS 11.5 were used to analyze the data. Results: Significant differences between the experimental and control groups were found for management of symptoms (Z=4.350, ,0<.001) and environmental hygiene (Z=4.033, p=.000), but not for prevention (Z=4.033, p=.149). Conclusion: The results indicate that providing information was effective for management practice of symptoms and environmental hygiene, but not for prevention management for the children and their parents. Therefore programs should be developed to promote prevention management.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.65-75
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• 2018

Purpose: This study aims to examine how elementary, middle and high school health teachers in Gyeonggi province react to infectious disease like MERS. Methods: This is a descriptive study using a convenience sample of 1,267 school health teachers. Results: When MERS was an epidemic, school health teachers who took the 'leading' role were 92.4%. A school heath teacher's countermeasures against infectious diseases showed a high score during MERS outbreak (3.81) compared to regular days (3.59). Conclusion: Based on such results, it has been determined that schools need to keep two types of procedures manual, such as 'countermeasures on a regular basis' and 'countermeasures in the event of a pandemic disease outbreak' manual in the staff offices so that anyone can view them at any time. It is necessary to prepare regulations to strengthen their authority so that school health teachers can take the role of control tower, in a professional capacity, when communicable disease is spreading. In order to prevent any confusion and chaos, there should be a unitary reporting system at each school when dealing with an epidemic. School health teachers need to get continuous training to reinforce their abilities to react to communicable diseases.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.51 no.3
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• pp.248-253
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• 2018

Freshwater farms are primarily located adjacent to rivers and lakes, facilitating the introduction and spread of pathogens into natural systems. Therefore, it is necessary to continuously monitor natural aquatic organisms, the breeding environment, and infection rates by pathogenic organisms. Fish and crustaceans were sampled 4 times in the Geum River estuary in 2016. The samples were analyzed for the presence of pathogens for reportable communicable diseases, including KHVD (koi herpesvirus disease), SVC (spring viraemia of carp), EUS (epizootic ulcerative syndrome) and WSD (white spot disease); parasite abundance was also examined. The dominant fish species were deep body bitterling Acanthorhodes macropterus (21.4%), followed by skygager Erythroculter erythropterus (12.7%). For crustaceans, Palaemon paucidens and Chinese mitten crab Eriocheir sinensis were dominant. Sixty fish and 36 crustacean species were examined for reportable communicable diseases. When using a specific primer set for each disease, PCR analysis did not detect any reportable communicable diseases in the samples. Some instances of Dactylogyrus, copepods, nematodes and metacercaria were detected. However, the PCR results indicated that the metacercaria were not Clonorchis sinensis.

• Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.63-74
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• 2007

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the educational effect of the Field Epidemiology Specialist Training Program for School Nurse which composed of 18hours curriculum. Method: The subjects were 797 who participated in the 2005 training program. Data was collected with structured questionnaires(knowledge on the control of communicable disease 15 items, attitude 15 items, and confidence in practice 14 items, demographic characteristics 4 items) before (January) and after (July to October) programs in 2005. Results: Knowledge on the control of communicable disease was improved from 9.7 points (possible range : 0-15) before program to 11.9 points after program. Attitude was improved from 53.6 points (possible range : 15-60) before program to 55.7 points after program. Confidence in practice was changed from 45.9 points (possible range : 14-56) before program to 50.0 points after program. Even though all three areas were improved after educational program, knowledge showed the largest change among them. Conclusion: We can conclude the educational program was effective because knowledge, attitude, and confidence in practice on the control of communicable were statistically significantly improved after educational program. Further educational program is recommended to be operated to get more improvement in attitude and confidence in practice. And short-term continuing educational program is needed to maintain and refresh the information on the control of communicable diseases in schools.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.52 no.4
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• pp.443-447
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• 2014

Babesiosis is an emerging tick-borne disease in humans worldwide; however, little is known about the frequency of infection or prevalence of this disease in other parts of the world, excluding North America. In this study, we aimed to investigate Babesia microti infection frequency in a human population in Mongolia. One hundred blood samples were collected from stock farmers living in Khutul city of Selenge province, Mongolia. The sera and DNA from blood samples were evaluated for the presence of B. microti infection by using indirect fluorescent antibody (IFA) tests and PCR. The positive detection rates obtained using the IFA tests and PCR assays were 7% and 3%, respectively. This study is the first to detect of B. microti infections based on antibody seroprevalence or PCR assays for the presence of B. microti DNA in a Mongolian population.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.60 no.1
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• pp.51-56
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• 2022

Global efforts to identify groups at high risk for schistosomiasis have mainly concentrated on identifying their geographical distribution. Investigations on the socioeconomic characteristics of high-risk groups are relatively scarce. This study aimed to explore the associations between schistosomiasis among students and their parents' occupations. A nationwide cross-sectional survey was conducted targeting 105,167 students in 1,772 primary schools across Sudan in 2017. From these students, 100,726 urine and 96,634 stool samples were collected to test for Schistosoma haematobium and S. mansoni infection. A multi-level mixed effect analysis was used with age and sex as fixed factors, and school as a random factor. The odd ratios (ORs) of practicing open defecation among farmers' children were almost 5 times higher than their counterparts whose parents were government officials (OR=4.97, 95% confidence intervals (CIs): 4.57-5.42, P<0.001). The ORs of contacting water bodies for watering livestock among farmers' children were more than 4 times higher than those of children whose parents were government officials (OR=4.59, 95% CIs: 4.02-5.24, P<0.001). This study shows that schistosomiasis represents a disease of poverty and that farmers' children constituted a high-risk group.