Public Health Response to Imported Hansen's Disease Cases and Contact Investigation Findings in the Chungcheong Region, 2024-2025

초록

This study assessed the potential for community transmission through contact investigations of two newly reported cases of Hansen's disease in the Chungcheong region between 2024 and 2025, and based on these findings, proposed strategies to improve contact management. Household members and workplace contacts of patients underwent clinical examinations and phenolic glycolipid-1 (PGL-I) antibody testing through general health screening programs or integrated health services for foreign nationals. Additionally, environmental risk assessments were performed in residential and workplace settings. Of the 37 contacts, 5 were Korean nationals, and 32 were foreign nationals; 1 was a household contact, and 36 were social contacts. Two contacts (5.4%) had PGL-I antibody titers ≥200, and both were workplace contacts of patient B. The mean antibody titers did not differ significantly according to the leprosy endemicity of the contacts' countries of origin. Epidemiological investigations indicated that the risk of workplace exposure was low, and no additional cases were identified. This case arose from limited exposure rather than ongoing community transmission of Hansen's disease from newly diagnosed patients. Given the increasing influx of foreign residents, systematic contact management strategies are necessary, including multilingual communication support during epidemiological investigations, risk-based contact investigations, and improvements to information systems for sustained follow-up. Copyright © Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency.

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