Be Aware of Children's Tsutsugamushi
The Busan Metropolitan City Health Authority requests everyone to be aware of the Tsutsugamushi disease. Symptoms include high fever and muscular pain and anyone can be exposed when active outside, like mountain hiking, even on December 18. People might think it is strange to be wary of the disease in midwinter, but it is real. It is a warning that must not be ignored.
According to the Korean Center for Disease Control and Prevention, patients having the third stage infectious disease have increased from 1,415 people in 2003, to 4,699 in 2004 and to 6,780 people in 2005. In the Busan region there were 52 patients in 2003, 254 in 2004 and 449 in 2005. Some 460 persons have had symptoms up until December 14 this year.
Usually, Tsutsugamushi peaks in autumn, especially from October to November. However, in the latter half of this year, there were 96 cases in October and 326 in November in Busan, and 34 certain cases were reported so far this month. It is a sign that the citizens in the Busan region should not let down their guard even if this is winter time.
The disease is known to be spread by larvae of chiggers which are parasitic on rats. It is mainly thought to occur in areas away from cities, but the frequency of the disease in Busan districts and counties proves the notion wrong.
Among the sixteen districts and counties in the Busan region this year, the Haeundae districts tops them all by having 97 patients suffering from the disease. This is followed by Ki-jang county (50), Dong-rae (42), Sa-ha (40) and Geum-jeong (37) districts.
Health officials said, “Winter temperatures are higher than usual and the number of vectors for ticks has increased. We assume we will see more patients coming down with the Tsutsugamushi disease.”
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 / 입력시간: 2006. 12.19. 08:27
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