Reemergence of Malaria in Korea

Weon-Gyu Kho

doi:10.5124/jkma.2007.50.11.959

J Korean Med Assoc > Volume 50(11); 2007 > Article

Kho: Reemergence of Malaria in Korea

Focused Issue of This Month

Parasitic Diseases in Korea

Journal of the Korean Medical Association

Journal of the Korean Medical Association 2007; 50(11): 959-966.

Published online: November 30, 2007

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5124/jkma.2007.50.11.959

Reemergence of Malaria in Korea

Weon-Gyu Kho, MD

Department of Parasitology, Inje University College of Medicine, Korea.wgkho@inje.ac.kr

Abstract

Malaria is one of the most important tropical diseases but also occurring in many temperate regions. After more than 10 years' absence, vivax malaria reemerged in Korea in 1993. The annual occurrence has been increased rapidly, reaching 4,142 cases in 2000. It started to decrease and fell to 826 cases in 2004. Recently, however, the incidence tends to increase. Anopheles sinensis is the major vector of malaria in Korea, and its vectorial capacity is low. This endemic occurred in the northern part of South Korea near the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). The patients suffered from the typical illness of vivax malaria. It is noteworthy that thrombocytopenia occurred in more than 70% of the patients. It is believed that the malaria is properly diagnosed and treated over the nation along the accumulation of experience. To control the disease, more elaborated programs should be conducted in collaboration with North Korea.

Malaria; Korea; Reemergence; Epidemiology; Clinical Feature

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Figure 1

Number of indigenous malaria cases in South Korea in 1993~2006 (8).

Figure 2

Distribution of 278 civilian cases of vivax malaria in 1994~1997 (21).