Malaria on the Up in Korea

The number of malarial patients has recently been increasing in Korea.
According to the Ministry of Health and Welfare, the total number of patients infected with malaria through April this year jumped by 28 percent to 290 from the same period last year, and was estimated to have reached 302 by June 11.
The contraction of malaria, which has taken place up till now mainly in areas near the DMZ (Demilitarized Zone) including Yonchon, Pochon, and Paju, in Kyonggi Province, has been occurring in metropolitan areas including Koyang in Kyonggi Province this year.
Therefore, the Ministry has been on alert to protect malaria from extending across the nation.
In particular, the overall number of military soldiers near the DMZ who have been infected with the infectious disease amount to 153, which is over half the total patients. Urgent steps are neededs to safeguard soldiers from the disease.
Malarial patients, of which there was only one in 1993, have been rapidly increasing every year, reaching 1,724 in 1997 and 3,923 in 1998.
The Ministry has decided to launch a three-year campaign, from 1999 to 2001, to eradicate malaria at the cost of 500 million won.

Jangsoo Seo:jsbee@joongang.co.kr