Prevention and Control Strategies for Parasitic Infections in the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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ISSN (Print) 0023-4001 ISSN (Online) 1738-0006 Korean J Parasitol Vol. 56, No. 5: 401-408, October 2018 ▣ MINI REVIEW https://doi.org/10.3347/kjp.2018.56.5.401 Prevention and Control Strategies for Parasitic Infections in the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 1 2 3 3, 4, 5, Young Yil Bahk , Eun-Hee Shin , Shin-Hyeong Cho , Jung-Won Ju *, Jong-Yil Chai *, Tong-Soo Kim * 1Department of Biotechnology, College of Biomedical and Health Science, Konkuk University, Chungju 27478, Korea; 2Department of Parasitology and Tropical Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, and Institute of Endemic Diseases, Seoul National University Medical Research Center, Seoul 03080, Korea; 3Division of Vectors and Parasitic Diseases, Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Osong 28159, Korea; 4Korea Association of Health Promotion, Seoul 07653, Korea; 5Department of Parasitology and Tropical Medicine, Inha University School of Medicine, Incheon 22212, Korea Abstract: Korea is successfully controlled intestinal parasitic infections owing to economic development and high health consciousness. The Division of Vectors and Parasitic Diseases (formerly the Division of Malaria and Parasitology) is in the Center for Laboratory Control of Infectious Diseases of the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It has been the governmental agency responsible for controlling and leading scientific research on parasitic diseases. The Division of Vectors and Parasitic Diseases has conducted and funded basic research and disseminated the research results to vari- ous medical fields, ultimately promoting public health in Korea. Among the noteworthy achievements of this division are the national surveillance of healthcare-associated parasitic infections, prevention and control for parasitic infections, and the elimination of lymphatic filariasis from Korea. On a broader scale, the division’s research programs and academic sup- ports were influential in preventing and treating infectious parasitic diseases through public policies and laws. In this re- view, we summarize the past and present role of the Division of Vectors and Parasitic Diseases in preventing and treating infectious parasitic diseases in Korea. Key words: Surveillance of parasite, parasite control, KCDC INTRODUCTION tions. However, this is not a long-term solution. Ameliorating the effects of these diseases may include attempts of eradicat- Life forms on earth are always exposed to parasites and thus ing specific diseases at a global level, eliminating them at a na- are constantly being reinfected in a chain reaction mode. Para- tional or local level, or controlling them to minimize infec- sitic diseases inflict considerable socio-economic losses to so- tions. Generally, it is impossible to adequately protect the ciety. Zoonotic parasites can result in disease manifestations in health of the public without addressing infectious disease humans and substantial economic losses to livestock popula- problems. Traditionally, public health burdens include infec- tions. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), tious diseases such as parasitic diseases, and a public health over 3 billion people around the world suffer from one or system would be required to use a demographic approach. A more parasitic diseases, which are widespread and a leading recent literature survey of human pathogens found more than cause of morbidity and mortality in populations [1]. Parasites 1,400 different species, of which more than half are known to have infected humans for thousands of years, and nearly all be zoonotic, i.e., able to infect other host species, thus demon- known human-specific parasites have been found in ancient strating the need for one health approach to many human and feces [2,3]. Indeed, no organism is protected against parasites. animal diseases [4]. Thus far, beyond communicative diseases, Anti-parasitic drugs are effective in minimizing parasitic infec- neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) including some parasitic infections are emerging or resurging as a result of changes in Received 15 August 2018, revised 15 October 2018, accepted 16 October 2018. public health policy, drug resistance, social pattern changes, • Corresponding authors ([email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]) * and genetic mutations in pathogens; NTDs are a group of © 2018, Korean Society for Parasitology and Tropical Medicine chronic disabling infections affecting more than 1 billion peo- This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0) ple worldwide [5]. Therefore, the control of NTDs and tradi- which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. tional infectious diseases has been identified as a major bur- 401 402 Korean J Parasitol Vol. 56, No. 5: 401-408, October 2018 den worldwide [6]. In addition, global warming has caused EU nations from 2006 to 2015. We obtained basic information climate changes, disrupting the biodiversity of various species on the mid-term and long-term plans of the DVPD of the that depend on a proper ecosystem. Global warming can alter KCDC (DMP, KNIH). Due to improvements in epidemiological the geographic distribution and intensity of the transmission surveillance over the last 4 decades and the systematic manage- of vector-borne diseases. The transmitted parasites usually ment of populations in highly endemic areas, the prevalence of benefit from increased temperatures as both their reproduc- parasitic infections nationwide is currently very low. Recent cas- tion and development are accelerated. es of parasitic diseases are mainly attributed to the transmission In 1966, the Korean National Assembly passed the “Parasite of fish/food-borne trematodes. This review systematically exam- Diseases Prevention Act”. With the passage of this law, the Ko- ines the role of the Center for Infectious Diseases Research in rea National Institute of Health (KNIH) became the leading public health-associated parasite management and control. governmental agency to address problems associated with par- asitic infections. Generally, it is impossible to adequately pro- SURVEILLANCE OF PARASITE-ASSOCIATED tect the health of any nation without addressing infectious dis- INFECTIONS IN KOREA ease problems that occur elsewhere in the world. The KNIH has long engaged in efforts to prevent and control parasitic Intestinal parasitic infections by helminth and protozoa are diseases and provides training, technical assistance, and other among the most prevalent infections worldwide [7]. In Korea, in- support to increase the capacity of country-based researchers testinal helminth infections were highly prevalent in the past, to optimize their effectiveness. Population health improve- which were one of the major public health burdens [8]. During ment often involves policy changes that result from complex the 1950s and 1960s, Korea was one of the poorest countries in efforts. Systems, policies, and procedures to measure and pre- the world. Based on the “law for Prevention of Parasitic Diseases” vent parasite-associated infections are essential for a compre- (Parasite Diseases Prevention Act) by the Korean Government, a hensive response to eliminate parasitic diseases. national control program was implemented by targeting the The initial organization for the management of infectious dis- school-age population in the country from 1969 to 1994. Infec- eases in Korea was Korea Institute of Prevention Disease, which tion prevention and control measures and practices can reduce was established in September 1945. The management of round- the spread of parasites among members of the public. Surveil- worms, flukes, etc., which were prevalent in Korea, started in lance programs should promote the implementation of evidence- 1959. Since then, there have been several organizational chang- based infection prevention and control practices to reduce the in- es. The Division of Malaria and Parasitology (DMP) was an or- cidence of these diseases, decrease transmission, and ultimately ganization of the KNIH until 2017. The DMP was established in improve public health. The surveillance of healthcare-associated 1963 in the Department of Hygiene, and it was an organization parasitic infections and infection prevention and control activities part of the Department of Virology from the 1970s onwards. In would not only help manage parasitic diseases but also contrib- 1997, the DMP was merged with the Division of Insect accord- ute to the overall economic development. Therefore, accurate sur- ing to the re-organization of the KNIH. In 2003, following the veillance is important to control parasitic diseases. In the past, the establishment of the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Pre- lack of adequate systems and infrastructure for accurate assess- vention (KCDC), the DMP was again separated from the Divi- ment and infection prevention and control in Korea contributed sion of Insect. Following the re-organization of the KCDC in the spread of parasitic diseases, and Korea was one of the coun- 2017, the DMP has been integrated with the Division of Insect tries with a high intestinal helminth infection rate, resulting in a and renamed as the Division of Vectors and Parasitic Diseases high public health risk [9,10]. Accurate estimates of the burden of (DVPD). Currently, the DVPD belongs to the Center