Osong Public Health and Research Perspectives

Original Articles

Evaluation of the acute hepatitis B surveillance system in the Republic of Korea following the transition to mandatory surveillance: Jaehwa Chung, Jeonghee Yu, Myeongeun Cheon, Sangwoo Tak; Osong Public Health Res Perspect. 2024;15(4):353-363. Published online August 1, 2024; DOI: https://doi.org/10.24171/j.phrp.2024.0083

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Graphical Abstract Abstract PDF: Objectives
The prevalence of hepatitis B in the Republic of Korea has declined, yet the disease burden persists. After various changes in targets and methods, the national hepatitis B surveillance system now exclusively monitors acute cases. We aimed to assess the alignment of this system with its intended purpose and to recommend improvements supporting the national strategic plan for viral hepatitis management.
Methods
This study assessed acute hepatitis B cases reported to the Korean Disease Control and Prevention Agency’s mandatory surveillance system over a 10-year period (2013–2022). It evaluated 5 factors from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Updated Guidelines for Evaluating Public Health Surveillance Systems: simplicity, positive predictive value, data quality, timeliness, and usefulness.
Results
The nonspecific nature of acute hepatitis B symptoms, along with the complexity of diagnostic criteria, indicated a high potential for misreporting. The surveillance system demonstrated a high positive predictive value (94.4%), with data quality and timeliness also rated high. However, data following the onset of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic indicate the need for improvement. Moreover, given the relative importance of specific characteristics of chronic infectious diseases, only limited interventions are implementable through the current surveillance system.
Conclusion
The evaluation of the Republic of Korea’s acute hepatitis B surveillance system revealed high positive predictive value, data quality, and timeliness. However, improvements can be made in the misreporting of chronic cases and the system’s usefulness. More accurate reflection of the characteristics of acute hepatitis B cases is essential for better management of viral hepatitis.

The first reported hepatitis E outbreak in a food manufacturing factory: Korea, 2022: Hansol Yeom, Soonryu Seo, Youngsil Yoon, Jaeeun Lee, Myung-Guk Han, Deog-Yong Lee, Sun-Whan Park, Song A Park, Sook-Hyang Jeong, Jin Gwack; Osong Public Health Res Perspect. 2023;14(1):15-22. Published online February 22, 2023; DOI: https://doi.org/10.24171/j.phrp.2022.0305

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Graphical Abstract Abstract PDF: Objectives
On February 16, 2022, 12 cases of hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection were reported in a food manufacturing factory in Korea. The aim of this study was to identify additional cases and to determine the source of this HEV outbreak. Methods: This study was an in-depth investigation of 12 HEV immunoglobulin M (IgM)-positive cases and their demographic, clinical, and epidemiological characteristics. On-site specimens were collected from the environment and from humans, and a follow-up investigation was conducted 2 to 3 months after the outbreak. Results: Among 80 production workers in the factory, 12 (15.0%) had acute HEV infection, all of whom were asymptomatic. The follow-up investigation showed that 3 cases were HEV IgMpositive, while 6 were HEV IgG-positive. HEV genes were not detected in the HEV IgM-positive specimens. HEV genes were not detected in the food products or environmental specimens collected on-site. HEV was presumed to be the causative pathogen. However, it could not be confirmed that the source of infection was common consumption inside the factory. Conclusion: This was the first domestic case of an HEV infection outbreak in a food manufacturing factory in Korea. Our results provide information for the future control of outbreaks and for the preparation of measures to prevent domestic outbreaks of HEV infection.

Seroprevalence of Hepatitis A and E Viruses Based on the Third Korea National Health and Nutrition Survey in Korea: Haesun Yun, Hyeok-Jin Lee, Doosung Cheon, Chaeshin Chu, Kyung Won Oh, Young Taek Kim, Youngmee Jee; Osong Public Health Res Perspect. 2011;2(1):46-50. Published online June 30, 2011; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.phrp.2011.04.009

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9 Crossref

Abstract PDF

Objectives
The purpose of this study was to investigate the seroprevalence of hepatitis A virus (HAV) and hepatitis E virus (HEV) in Korea during 2005.
Methods
Study subjects were selected from across Korea using a stratified multistage probability sampling design, and HAV and HEV seroprevalence was compared on the basis of sex, age, and residency. A total of 497 rural and urban people aged 10–99 years of age (mean ± SD age = 28.87 ± 17.63 years) were selected by two-stage cluster sampling and tested serologically for anti-HAV and anti-HEV IgG using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.
Results
Among this population, the overall seroprevalence of HAV was 63.80% (55.21% aged in their 20s and 95.92% in their 30s, p < 0.01) and that of HEV was 9.40% (5.21% aged in their 20s and 7.14% in their 30s, p < 0.01). Seroprevalence also varied according to area of residence. HEV prevalence in rural areas was higher than that of urban regions based on the anti-HEV antibody, odds ratio 3.22 (95% confidence interval: 1.46–7.10, p < 0.01). There were no significant differences between male and female against anti-HAV/HEV antibodies.
Conclusion
Our study suggested that the seropositive rates of HAV and HEV might be related to age and environmental conditions.

Citations

Citations to this article as recorded by

A Silent Outbreak of Hepatitis E Virus (HEV) Infection or False-Positive Reaction of Anti-HEV IgM after COVID-19 Vaccination? Epidemiological Investigation of an Outbreak in a Korean Factory Complex in 2022
Jeonghyeon Oh, Gwang Hyeon Choi, Yeonhwa Chang, Jina Kim, Kunhee Park, Hansol Yeom, Soonryu Seo, Jin Gwack, Sook-Hyang Jeong
Gut and Liver.2024; 18(3): 531. CrossRef
A Report on a Nationwide Surveillance System for Pediatric Acute Hepatitis of Unknown Etiology in Korea
Kyung Jae Lee, Jae Sung Ko, Kie Young Park, Ki Soo Kang, Kunsong Lee, Jeana Hong, Soon Chul Kim, Yoon Lee, Ben Kang, Yu Bin Kim, Hyun Jin Kim, Byung Wook Eun, Hye-Kyung Cho, Yae-Jean Kim, Mi Jin Kim, Jin Lee, Taek-Jin Lee, Seak Hee Oh, Sowon Park, Eun Ha
Journal of Korean Medical Science.2023;[Epub] CrossRef
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Journal of Medical Virology.2017; 89(11): 1988. CrossRef
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Cosme Alvarado-Esquivel, Luis F. Sánchez-Anguiano, Jesús Hernández-Tinoco
Annals of Hepatology.2014; 13(5): 510. CrossRef
Epidemiologic Study on Hepatitis A Virus Seroprevalence in Busan
Kyung-Soon Cho, So-Hyun Park
Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science.2014; 46(1): 17. CrossRef
A Systematic Review of Hepatitis E Virus Infection in Children
V. P. Verghese, J. L. Robinson
Clinical Infectious Diseases.2014; 59(5): 689. CrossRef
Hepatitis E Virus (HEV) Seroprevalence in the general population of the Republic of Korea in 2007–2009: a nationwide cross-sectional study
Youngsil Yoon, Hye Sook Jeong, Haesun Yun, Hyeokjin Lee, Yoo-Sung Hwang, Bohyun Park, Chae Jin Lee, Sangwon Lee, Ji-Yeon Hyeon
BMC Infectious Diseases.2014;[Epub] CrossRef
The Road Less Traveled
Chaeshin Chu
Osong Public Health and Research Perspectives.2011; 2(1): 1. CrossRef

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