TRENDS IN EPIDEMIOLOGICAL ASPECTS OF LYME DISEASE WITH DOMESTIC AND EXOTIC INFECTIONS IN REPUBLIC OF KOREA, 2011-2017

Myeong-Jin Lee, Young-Hwan Kwon and Won-Chang Lee*

ABSTRACT

Background and Methods: This study focuses on a quantitative analysis of the epidemiological aspects of Lyme diseases (LD) with domestic and exotic infections in Republic of Korea (ROK). A total of 96 cases including domestic and exotic infections were 54 and 42 infections from 2011 to 2017. Especially, a total of 42 cases of imported exotic LD notifications were introduced from endemic foreign countries. The raw data obtained from the Korea Center for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC). Results: Nationwide, the cumulative incidence rate (CIR) of LD was 0.027 per 100,000 populations; the CIR of LD with domestic and exotic cases was 0.015 and 0.033 per 100,000 populations, respectively. When compared, the CIR of domestic cases of LD was much lower than that in exotic cases (p<0.01). In addition, the exotic-to-domestic morbidity ratio (EDCR) was 0.78. During the same period, a CIR of LD in metropolitan area of Seoul (0.044) was higher than that of counties (0.023) in ROK (p<0.05). In the total case-fatality rate of LD was 1.04 %. On the other hands, our results also show that the male-to-female morbidity ratio (MFMR) was 0.66. More women was infected with LD than men (p<0.05). Individuals aged 40-59 years were most infected than those of other ages (42.7%, p<0.01). About four-fifths of reported LD cases occurred between June and November in year. Most imported exotic LD cases were associated with in Americas region (22 cases or 52.4% of total cases). The number of reported cases with LD has been increasing since from 2011 up to now. Conclusion: To prevent LD infections, greater attention should be paid to individuals who are the planning to presumptive areas.

Keywords: Domestic and Exotic LD, CIR, epidemic aspects, presumptive origins.