Cholera Outbreaks in Korea after the Liberation in 1945: Clinical and Epidemiological Characteristics

Abstract

The characteristics of cholera epidemics that have occurred in Korea since the country's liberation in 1945 are described. The cholera outbreak in 1946 was the last classical one that occurred in Korea. In the 1960s, El Tor cholera replaced classical cholera worldwide which is characterized by lower volumes of and less frequent diarrhea, a lower case fatality rate, and a higher percentage of people who carry cholera without symptoms. There were 11 cholera epidemics in Korea between 1963 and 2001. Except for 2 patients in 2002, all cases originated from, or were associated with, other countries until 2016. In 2016, cholera was transmitted to three individuals within Korea. The number of cases, the number of deaths, and the case fatality rate decreased markedly after the 1946 cholera epidemic. The highest case fatality rate since 1946 was 9% in 1969, and there have been no deaths due to cholera since 1995. Introduction of infection from outside the country, infection by Vibrio cholerae carrier-residents within the country, and intentional spread were all considered to be possible sources of the initial infection that triggered the epidemics.

Keywords: Cholera; Classical cholera; El Tor cholera; Epidemics.