COVID-19 and AIDS... Persistent Infectious Diseases in the Military
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[Asia Economy Yang Nak-gyu, Military Specialist Reporter] Amid a large-scale outbreak of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) on a Navy ship, the number of legally designated infectious disease patients within the military has reached the highest level in the past three years. In particular, the number of patients with Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) has not decreased, indicating that, aside from blocking contact with outsiders, attention must also be paid internally to prevent the spread of infectious diseases.
According to the military on the 23rd, there were 749 legally designated infectious disease patients within the military last year. This is a significant increase compared to 519 in 2018 and 475 in 2019.
The military stated that the increase in the total number of infectious disease patients is due to 506 COVID-19 patients, classified as a first-class infectious disease, recorded last year. However, second- and third-class infectious disease patients have also been steadily occurring.
Second-class infectious diseases require notification to relevant authorities within 24 hours due to their transmissibility and require isolation. There are 20 such diseases, including tuberculosis, chickenpox, measles, and cholera. Among second-class infectious disease patients last year, chickenpox patients were the most numerous at 83. Tuberculosis accounted for 40, hepatitis A for 11, and mumps for 3.
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The military defines third-class infectious diseases as those requiring continued monitoring of patients. Last year, there were a total of 85 third-class infectious disease patients within the military. Malaria was the most common with 36 cases, followed by Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) with 28, hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome with 7, tsutsugamushi disease with 4, hepatitis B with 4, hepatitis C with 4, and leptospirosis with 2.
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