title: Comparison of the Epidemiological Aspects of Imported Dengue Cases between Korea and Japan, 2006-2010.
abstract: To compare the epidemiological characteristics of dengue cases imported by travelers or immigration in both Korea and Japan, we determined dengue incidence and related risk factors. During 2006-2010, 367 and 589 imported dengue cases were reported in Korea and Japan, respectively. In Korea, the presumptive origins for the dengue infections were Southeast Asia (82.6%), Southern Asia (13.9%), Eastern Asia (1.1%), South America (0.3%), Central America (0.3%), Africa (0.3%), and other countries (1.6%). In Japan, the origins of the infections were Southeast Asia (69.8%), Southern Asia (20.0%), Eastern Asia (1.7%), South America (2.5%), Central America (1.2%), Africa (1.2%), Oceania (2.4%), and other countries (1.2%). In both countries, more dengue cases were reported for men than for women (p < 0.01), and those aged 20-30 years accounted for > 60% of the total cases. The frequency of imported cases in summer and autumn (∼70% of total cases) was similar in both countries. This study demonstrates that there is a similar pattern of imported dengue cases in Korea and Japan. Therefore, there is a risk of an autochthonous dengue outbreak in Korea, as indicated by the recent outbreak in Japan in 2014.
authors.affiliation: Division of Arboviruses, National Institute of Health, Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Cheongju, Korea.
authors.forename: Young Eui
authors.initials: YE
authors.lastname: Jeong
authors.affiliation: College of Veterinary Medicine, Konkuk University, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Won-Chang
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Division of Arboviruses, National Institute of Health, Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Cheongju, Korea.
authors.forename: Jung Eun
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.affiliation: Division of Arboviruses, National Institute of Health, Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Cheongju, Korea.
authors.forename: Myung-Guk
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Han
authors.affiliation: Division of Arboviruses, National Institute of Health, Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Cheongju, Korea.
authors.forename: Won-Ja
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Lee
keywords: Japan; Korea; dengue; epidemiology; travelers