4.5% of Residents in 39 Cities and Counties of the 5 Major Rivers Basin Infected with 'Jangnae Parasites'

Disease Control Agency Survey Results Show Slight Increase Compared to Previous Year
Relatively High Infection Rates in Nakdonggang and Seomjingang River Basins

It was found that 4.5% of residents in the watershed areas of the five major rivers were infected with intestinal parasites. The infection rate of liver flukes among these residents also slightly increased compared to last year.

Trends in Intestinal Parasite and Liver Fluke Infection Rates Among Residents in the Five Major River Basins

The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) announced on the 2nd the results of diagnosing infections of 11 types of intestinal parasites, including liver flukes, intestinal flukes, and roundworms, among 28,918 residents in 39 cities and counties in epidemic areas of intestinal parasitic diseases along the five major rivers: the Han River, Nakdong River, Geum River, Seomjin River, and Yeongsan River, in cooperation with local government public health centers.

As a result, the overall intestinal parasite infection rate increased by 0.8 percentage points from 3.7% last year to 4.5% this year. In particular, the infection rates were relatively high among men in their 50s (9.8%) and men in their 60s (8.9%).

Additionally, the intestinal parasite infection rate among residents in the Seomjin River basin reached as high as 6.3%, and the Nakdong River basin also showed a relatively high rate of 3.9%.

The infection rate of liver flukes, a carcinogenic pathogen, was 2.3%, slightly increased from 1.9% the previous year. Following this, the infection rates for intestinal flukes were 1.9%, whipworms 0.2%, and the giant oriental oyster fluke 0.1%.

The KDCA has been continuously implementing management projects in cooperation with local governments since 2005 to reduce parasite infection rates among residents in epidemic areas. As a result, the average intestinal parasite infection rate, which was over 10% at the beginning of the project, has recently decreased to below 5%. However, in areas such as Hadong County and Gurye County in the Nakdong River basin, and Andong City in the Seomjin River basin, high infection rates above 10% persist. Therefore, it was analyzed that active efforts, including focused investigations and promotion of dietary habit improvements, are necessary to eradicate intestinal parasites in these regions.

Ji Young-mi, director of the KDCA, stated, "To rapidly reduce intestinal parasites such as liver flukes in epidemic areas, we will actively cooperate with local governments to conduct comprehensive surveys targeting residents in regions with high infection rates, prevent infections, and further strengthen the surveillance system."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.