Publications by authors named "Enhi Cho"
Article Synopsis
- As of June 2022, Korea has administered 5 COVID-19 vaccine brands, with a comprehensive safety monitoring system utilizing web reporting and text messages to track adverse events (AEs).
- A total of 125,107,883 doses were given, resulting in 471,068 reported AEs, with 96.1% classified as nonserious and only 3.9% serious.
- Specific serious AEs included instances of anaphylaxis, myocarditis, and thrombocytopenia, while younger adults, particularly females, experienced higher rates of AEs, most of which were mild.
Article Synopsis
- In Korea, a national COVID-19 vaccination program utilized four types of vaccines and included a text messaging survey for reporting unusual post-vaccination symptoms.
- The study collected responses from 50,950 vaccine recipients to compare adverse events after receiving either homologous (same vaccine type) or heterologous (mixed vaccine types) two-dose regimens.
- Results showed that mRNA vaccine recipients experienced more frequent reactions after their second dose, and younger females receiving mixed vaccine regimens reported more adverse events, but no serious safety concerns were found.
Adverse events of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine in Korean children and adolescents aged 5 to 17 years.
Osong Public Health Res Perspect
October 2022
Objectives: This study aimed to identify potential safety signals and adverse events following the primary Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination series among children and adolescents aged 5 to 17 years in the Republic of Korea.
Methods: Adverse events reported through the COVID-19 vaccination management system (CVMS, a web-based passive vaccine safety surveillance system) and adverse events and health conditions collected from a text message-based survey were analyzed.
Results: A total of 14,786 adverse events among 5 to 17-year-old children and adolescents were reported in the CVMS; 14,334 (96.
Article Synopsis
- South Korea's mass vaccination campaign from February 26 to April 30, 2021, administered 3.8 million COVID-19 vaccine doses.
- Out of 173 suspected anaphylaxis cases reported, 44 were confirmed as actual anaphylaxis using established case definitions.
- The rates of anaphylaxis were 18.2 per million doses for Vaxzevria and 6.2 per million for Comirnaty, with symptoms typically appearing 14 minutes after vaccination, and most patients had recovered by the time of review.
Article Synopsis
- A cluster of acute respiratory infections caused by adenovirus was reported in a physical education school in South Korea, prompting an epidemiological investigation to determine the outbreak's transmission route and control measures.
- Two studies were conducted: a retrospective cohort study among students and teachers in the swimming department, and a prospective surveillance study involving the entire school, which defined cases based on specific respiratory symptoms from April to July 2017.
- A total of 47 cases were identified, with common symptoms including headache, fever, and sore throat; higher attack rates were found in the swimming department, and being in the shooting department or a first-year high school student increased the risk of infection significantly.
Article Synopsis
- * Epidemiological investigations tracked the spread by examining contacts, seafood, and seawater in the environment.
- * Microbiological tests revealed that the cholera strains from the patients and seawater were identical, indicating a strong connection between food and environmental sources.
Tuberculosis prevention and care in Korea: Evolution of policy and practice.
J Clin Tuberc Other Mycobact Dis
May 2018
Article Synopsis
- Tuberculosis (TB) continues to be a major health issue in Korea, with a high incidence rate of 77 per 100,000, making it the only OECD country facing this challenge.
- The Korean government has increased funding and improved patient management strategies since 2011, leading to an average annual reduction of 5.2% in TB cases from 2011 to 2016.
- Despite progress, there are still challenges with existing tools for managing latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI), such as communication gaps and treatment side effects, emphasizing the need for better resources and methods.
Article Synopsis
- In June 2015, a gastroenteritis outbreak occurred among students at a camp, prompting an investigation to identify the cause and extent of the illness.
- A retrospective cohort study was conducted where attendees were interviewed about their symptoms, food, and water consumption, and clinical samples were tested for pathogens.
- The investigation found 188 symptomatic patients, with the outbreak linked to contaminated drinking water from a private reservoir, highlighting the need for better water quality management and regular inspections in such facilities.
Outbreak of CTX-M-15-Producing Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli O159:H20 in the Republic of Korea in 2016.
Antimicrob Agents Chemother
September 2017
We investigated an outbreak of enterotoxigenic (ETEC) O159:H20 associated with the consumption of a tossed-noodle dish in a high school in 2016. Thirty-three ETEC strains isolated from clinical and food samples were genetically indistinguishable. The outbreak strains were resistant to third-generation cephalosporins and harbored a gene on a 97-kb self-transferable IncK plasmid.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFArticle Synopsis
- South Korea's National Antimicrobial Resistance Safety Control Program (NARSCP) ran from 2003 to 2013 to address antimicrobial resistance (AMR) through systematic research and funding strategies.
- The study analyzed 198 project reports from various health ministries, revealing a total funding of $18.3 million, with most research focusing on basic microbial research and surveillance.
- Findings indicated a significant increase in yearly funding and a need for more balanced research support that includes input from private and international sectors to effectively tackle AMR.
Article Synopsis
- The hepatitis A virus (HAV) has been the main cause of viral hepatitis in Korea since the 2000s, with a total of 7,585 reported cases between 2011 and 2013, showing a decline in incidence over these years.
- The majority of cases were among men, particularly in the 20-39 year age bracket, and infections peaked from March to June.
- Geographic analysis indicated mid-western regions had a consistently higher risk of HAV infection during the study period, highlighting regional differences in prevalence.
Article Synopsis
- * A total of 313 homeless individuals were tested for LTBI using two methods and for active TB through chest X-rays during a period from October 2009 to April 2010.
- * Results showed that 75.9% had LTBI and 5.8% had active TB, with LTBI rates in the homeless group being about five times higher than in the general population, indicating a significant public health issue that needs targeted intervention.
Article Synopsis
- Mycobacterium bovis BCG is the only vaccine currently available for tuberculosis.
- The various strains of BCG used globally are derived from a family of daughter strains that have unique genetic traits.
- This report presents the complete genome sequence of the M. bovis BCG Korea strain, which will be utilized for vaccine production in Korea.
Article Synopsis
- The study analyzed medical records of 53,579 TB patients in Korea from 2008 to assess the epidemiology of TB and its treatment in private institutions.
- Among the analyzed cases, 29.2% were sputum smear positive, with new TB cases making up 73.1% and drug resistance rates at 5.3% for new cases.
- The findings revealed that out of the total TB patients, 66.4% were cured or completed treatment, highlighting the effectiveness of using health insurance data to understand TB status in the country.