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 Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in ISI Web of Science Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via ISI Web of Science (1) Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by YEOM, J.-S. Articles by PARK, J.-W. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by YEOM, J.-S. Articles by PARK, J.-W. Related Collections Epidemiology Malaria

PLASMODIUM VIVAX MALARIA IN THE REPUBLIC OF KOREA DURING 2004–2005: CHANGING PATTERNS OF INFECTION

Vivax malaria re-emerged in the Republic of Korea (ROK) in 1993. The annual incidence of this disease, which had increased rapidly through 2000 with geographic expansion, started to decrease in 2001, reaching 864 cases in 2004; however, the trends changed in 2005 when 1,304 cases were reported. Among 2,168 cases of vivax malaria reported from 2004 through 2005, 389 cases (17.9%) were ROK military personnel, 565 cases (26.1%) were veterans who had been discharged from the military within 2 years of report of infection, and 1,214 cases (56.0%) were civilians. Local transmission might have taken place during this period in the southern side of the Demilitarized Zone. Regional increase of vivax malaria in North Korea, increased local transmissions in ROK, and active transmission by vector mosquitoes during the transmission season might be important factors responsible for the re-increase of vivax malaria in ROK during 2005.

Received October 17, 2006. Accepted for publication January 26, 2007.

Acknowledgments: The authors thank Min-Seon Kim and Hye-Jin Kim for drawing the maps.

Financial support: This study was supported by a grant of the Antimicrobial Resistance Program, National Research and Development Program of the National Institute of Health (NIH-4800-4845-300), Ministry of Health and Welfare, Republic of Korea.

^* Address correspondence to Jae-Won Park, Department of Microbiology, Gachon Medical School 1198, Kuwol-1-Dong, Namdong-Gu, Incheon 405-760, Republic of Korea. E-mail: seorak{at}dreamwiz.com

Authors’ addresses: Joon-Sup Yeom, Department of Internal Medicine, Kangbuk Samsung Hospital, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine 108, Pyung-Dong Chongno-Gu, Seoul 110-746, Republic of Korea. Tong-Soo Kim, Division of Malaria and Parasitic Diseases, Korea Center for Disease Control and Prevention 5, Nokboon-Dong, Eunpyung-Gu, Seoul 122-701, Republic of Korea. Sejoong Oh, Korean Armed Forces Medical Command, Yool-Dong, Boondang-Gu, Seongnam-Si, Gyoonggi-Do 463-750, Republic of Korea, Jai-Bong Sim, Department of Public Health, Incheon Metropolitan Cityi 1138, Kuwol-Dong, Namdong-Gu, Incheon 405-750, Republic of Korea. Dae-Sang Barn, Hye-Jung Kim, Young-A Kim, Sun-Young Ahn, Mee-Young Shin, Jai-Ae Yoo, Jaw-Won Par, Department of Microbiology, Gachon Medical School 1198, Kuwol-1-Dong, Namdong-Gu, Incheon 405-760, Republic of Korea, E-mail: seorak{at}dreamwiz.com.