Evaluation report on the results of the passive case detection conducted in the Korea malaria pre-eradication progamme during the period 1960-1965

Abstract

Under the current epidemiological conditions as found in Korea, and considering the limited funds available for the malaria project, passive case detection proved to be the only practical mechanism to obtain reliable data required for the delimitation of malarious areas. The malaria map of the country was completed at the end of 1965. The high SPRs found among the blood smears reported by the PCD undts are due to the fact that the Korean farmer is able to recognize the clinical symptoms of the disease. The "fever case" reports are therefore actually "suspect malaria case" reports. The consistently high SPR has resulted in the detection of a large number of parasite carriers with the number of smears to be examined being reduced to a minimum. Although the medical group gave an important contribution to the success of the PCD service in Korea, the number of medical and public health facilities in the rural areas are still too small. This made it necessary to obtain the collaboration of laymen groups like school teachers, village chiefs etc., and their participation largely contributed to the success of the present programme. The degree of collaboration by the PCD units is higher in the more malarious areas. As no form of encouragement e.g., a reporting fee, has been given to these laymen during the past few years it becomes increasingly more difficult to maintain their active co-operation. It is felt that through passive case detection alone it will not be possible to collect adequate information to provide the proof for the complete interruption of transmission.

Unstable vivax malaria in Korea

“…The Service was consisted of 28 Korean members and 2-3 WHO consultants (malariologist, parasitologist and/or entomologist), assigned to parasitological laboratory, entomological and epidemiological teams. The results of NMES activities were incompletely reported in published documents (Paik and Tsai, 1963;Whang, 1962Whang, , 1963Whang, , 1964Paik et al, 1965;Paik and van der Gugten, 1966;NMES, 1966;Hong, 1967;Chen et al, 1967;Hong and Ree, 1968). The followings are the summarized results of NMES activities.…”

“…Table 11. Number of reported malaria cases by PCD in north Kyonggi-do in 1966-1969(Shim and Kim, 1999) 196619671969 Organization in 1979(WHO, 1981.…”

Analysis of Plasmodium vivax merozoite surface protein-1 gene sequences from resurgent Korean isolates.

“…An intensive control program began with a coordinated program of case detection and vector control. 3 Effective eradication efforts tailored towards specific malaria risk areas resulted in South Korea becoming free of malaria after 1979. In 1993, a few malaria patients were diagnosed who had never been to foreign countries, but who had served in the South Korean Army in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) (buffer between the People's Democratic Republic of Korea [North Korea] and the Republic of Korea (South Korea) in northern Kyunggi province.…”

Prevalence of antibodies to the circumsporozite protein of Plasmodium vivax in five different regions of Korea

“…Malaria has been endemic throughout the Korean Peninsula several times before the 1990s, but documents of the malaria control programmes during the 1950s and 1960s indicated rapid reduction of malaria prevalence (Paik & van der Gugten 1966). Prior to 1993, it was thought that malaria was eradicated by 1979.…”