Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42107981›Full record

ArticleOsong public health and research perspectives2026

Epidemiological trends and regional risk factors for scrub typhus in Busan, Republic of Korea: 2019-2023.

Keoungsuk Kim, Hyeokjin Lee, Seungah Park, Gey Ok Lee, Sang-Eun Lee

Abstract read
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Article in Osong public health and research perspectives, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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1 · What the graph read from it

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3 · Its place in the literature

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Keoungsuk KimDivision of Infectious Disease Control, Busan Metropolitan City Hall, Busan, Republic of Korea.
Hyeokjin LeeDivision of Infectious Disease Control & Response, Gyeongnam Regional Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, Busan, Republic of Korea.
Seungah ParkDivision of Infectious Disease Control, Busan Metropolitan City Hall, Busan, Republic of Korea.
Gey Ok LeeDivision of Infectious Disease Control, Busan Metropolitan City Hall, Busan, Republic of Korea.
Sang-Eun LeeDivision of Infectious Disease Control & Response, Gyeongnam Regional Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, Busan, Republic of Korea.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundScrub typhus, an acute disease caused by Orientia tsutsugamushi and transmitted by larval chigger mites, is a representative autumn febrile illness in the Republic of Korea. We examined epidemiological characteristics underlying spatial heterogeneity in Busan Metropolitan City to inform region-specific prevention and control policies.

methodsWe analyzed 1,645 confirmed and suspected scrub typhus cases reported in Busan from 2019 to 2023. Crude incidence rates and age-standardized incidence rates (ASIRs) per 100,000 population were calculated using the 2021 mid-year population. The chi-square test assessed associations between disease occurrence and exposure activities within the preceding 30 days. Correlation analyses examined the relationships of ASIR with environmental indicators, including per capita urban forest area, and epidemiological indicators, including prior infectious disease education.

resultsThe overall mean ASIR in Busan was 8.35 per 100,000 population, below the national average. However, incidence was higher in peri-urban districts, including Gijang-gun (26.12/100,000) and Gangseo-gu (15.02/100,000), than in central urban districts such as Junggu (2.20/100,000). Higher incidence was observed among women and older adults (≥60 years). ASIR correlated strongly with per capita urban forest area (r=0.92; 95% confidence interval, 0.79-0.97; p<0.001). Regional differences were significant for agriculture/forestry, gardening, and general outdoor activities (p<0.001). Districts with higher incidence also displayed higher rates of infectious disease education, although this may reflect reverse causation.

conclusionIn Busan, scrub typhus incidence was concentrated in peri-urban districts. These findings support region-specific prevention strategies, evaluation of infectious disease education, enhanced mite surveillance, and practical protective measures during fieldwork.

Indexed as

BusanEpidemiologyOrientia tsutsugamushiPersonal protective equipmentRisk factorsScrub typhus

Identifiers

PMID42107981
PMCPMC13346928

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.