The Epidemiological Characteristics of a Shigellosis Outbreak (1998) in Wonju City, Kangwon-Do

Park, Jong Ku; Kim, Chun Bae; Seok, Won Seok; Park, Kee Ho; Wang, Seungjun

Abstract

From September 8-28 1998, 55 cases of shigellosis, characterized by watery diarrhea, high fever, abdominal cramps and headache were reported at K elementary school in Wonju City. The isolated serotype was Shigella sonnei (group D). We collected bacteriologic specimens from high-risk populations, disinfected epidemic areas, and monitored all the medical facilities in Wonju City. Through these efforts, we found 168 cases of shigellosis, and of these, 117 were culture-confirmed and 51 were diagnosed by symptoms. The incidence rate per 10,000 population in Wonju City was 1.00 in males and 1.19 in females. The secondary attack rate was 13.6%. The mode of transmission at K elementary school was most often caused by the common epidemic source of single exposure. The source of infection was believed to be the foods distributed on September 7. However, epidemiologic evidence suggested that the sources of infection were scattered over many places within the city. The reasons included: i) shigellosis is an endemic disease in Korea; ii) there were shigellosis-like patients at J primary school in Wonju City in late August; and iii) there was a shigellosis outbreak at Chongil Myun, Hoeng Seong Gun, which was located near Wonju City, in early August.