Korean J Aerosp Environ Med.  2022 Dec;32(3):89-93. 10.46246/KJAsEM.220021.

Epidemiological Aspects of Zika Virus Infection Cases among Overseas Travelers in Korea and Japan

• Lee MJ
• Lee WC
• Kwon YH

• KMID: 2539379
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.46246/KJAsEM.220021

Abstract

Purpose
Zika virus (ZIKV) infection is a mosquito-borne Flavivirus disease. we investigated the epidemiological aspects and status of imported ZIKV infection cases in Korea (Republic of) and Japan during 2016–2020.
Methods
Raw data of ZIKV infection cases from the Korea Diseases Control and Prevention Agency, and the National Institute of infectious Diseases in Japan, 2016– 2020.
Results
There were 33 cases of ZIKV infection in Korea and 21 cases in Japan between 2016 and 2020. Cumulative incidence rate per 1,000,000 overseas travelers (OTs) of Korea (0.30) did not substantially differ that of Japan (0.27), respectively. We observed the ZIKV infected cases of male (69.7% of total cases) were much more than that for female (30.3%) in OTs of Korea (P<0.05). However, while there was none significant differences level between males (52.4%) and females (47.6%) in OTs of Japan. On the other hands, the distribution by adjusted-age groups for ZIKV infections were similar between Korean and Japanese that total cases occurred in the over 20 to 59-years old age, clearly more showing a higher infected of ZIKV (P<0.01). The presumptive origin imported ZIKV infection cases in Korean were as follows; Southeast Asia (81.8% of total cases) and Central & South Americas (18.2%), and those in Japan, these were Southeast Asia (42.9%) and Central & South Americas (42.9%) and Oceania (4.7%), respectively.
Conclusion
This study demonstrates that there is a similar pattern of imported ZIKV disease cases in Korea and Japan. Therefore, to prevent ZIKV infections, greater attention should be paid to individuals who are planning to travel to the presumptive regions of ZIKV.

Keyword

Zika virus; Epidemiology; Korea; Japan