1. Elimination of lymphatic filariasis in the Republic of Korea: an epidemiological survey of formerly endemic areas, 2002–2006.
- Author
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Hyeong-Il Cheun, Jong-Soo Lee, Shin-Hyeong Cho, Yoon Kong, and Tong-Soo Kim
- Subjects
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FILARIASIS , *HELMINTHIASIS , *EPIDEMIOLOGY , *PUBLIC health , *HEALTH surveys , *TROPICAL medicine - Abstract
Objectives To determine the current status of lymphatic filariasis (LF) in Korea. Methods Epidemiological surveys between 2002 and 2006 in areas where LF was previously endemic: remote and coastal areas Jeollanam-do, Gyeongsangnam-do, and Jeju-do, and inland Gyeongsangbuk-do. We took night blood smears from 9426 people for microfilaria testing and assayed samples from 3049 children (10- to 13-year-olds) and 1526 adults for Brugia malayi antibodies. Results We found two cases (0.01%) with low microfilaria density in their peripheral blood (1–2/20 μl) on the remote island of Jeollanam-do in the southern part of the Korean peninsula. These patients, males over 60-years old, were treated with diethylcarbamazine (DEC). None of the 4575 people surveyed tested positive for specific B. malayi antibodies. Conclusion Lymphatic filariasis appears to have been eliminated in Korea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2009
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