Infect Chemother.  2010 Oct;42(5):271-279. 10.3947/ic.2010.42.5.271.

Imported Parasitic Diseases in Korea

• Ahn MH

• KMID: 1806888
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3947/ic.2010.42.5.271

Abstract

International migration of people has risen exponentially during the past two decades. Many people travel abroad for business purposes, sightseeing, volunteer activities, immigration, education, missonary work, etc., and are exposed to vector-borne and food or water-borne parasitic diseases, especially when they are traveling to the tropical and sub-tropical areas. Recently, imported parasitic diseases have also increased in Korea due to frequent traveling by the local residents or entry of foreign workers to the country. According to the statistics from 1970 to 2008, malaria (727 cases) was the most frequently imported parasitic disease in Korea followed by gnathostomiasis (42 cases) and hydatidosis (31 cases). From 1970 to 2010, cases of ancylostomiasis (1 case), angiostrongylosis (15 cases), babesiosis (8 cases), cutaneous larva migrans (8 cases), cutaneous myiasis (2 cases), cyclosporiasis (1 case), heterophyiasis (2 cases), leishmaniasis (28 cases), loiasis (3 cases), pentastomiasis (1 case), schistosomiasis (13 cases), and syngamosis (1 case) have also been reported. Travelers to Sub-Saharan Africa, Southeast Asia, and Central and South America should be on alert against malaria and other tropical diseases. National surveillance for imported diseases started in 2001 by Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC). This article reviews imported parasitic diseases in Korea with review of literature.

Keyword

Imported parasite; Travel; Malaria; Korea

MeSH Terms

Africa South of the Sahara
Ancylostomiasis
Animals
Asia, Southeastern
Babesiosis
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S.)
Commerce
Cyclosporiasis
Echinococcosis
Emigration and Immigration
Gnathostomiasis
Korea
Larva Migrans
Leishmaniasis
Loiasis
Malaria
Myiasis
Parasitic Diseases
Schistosomiasis
South America

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