Ascariasis and Its Control Problems in Korea

Ascaris lumbricoides is one of the most widely distributed and commonest helminths in the world. According to the paper, T his wormy world' (Stoll , 1947) , the number of infected eases among 2,167 million global population was estimated about 644 millions (about 30 pereent) , and the majority in parts of Asia were found to be infected. Korea , which is a peninsula of Asia continent, seems also one of the nations where temperature, soil nature and other socioenvironmental conditions are favourable for infection cycle of this worm. In faet , the prevalence had been high in Korea according to many reports until about a decade ago. Recently , however, the condition has been mueh improved not only due to the elevated socioeconomic status of Korean people but also due to the control activity performed by the Korea Association for Parasite Eradication (KAPE) mainly on primary, middle and -ιs、high school students for longer than 10 years (KAPE, 1!)80). Nevertheless, the present status of 11scaris infection in this country is not satisfactory. The prevalence was still I I. G percent among student groups in spring, l~l80 and 41. 0 percent among whole age groups in 1~)7G (KAPE, 1980; Ministry of Health and Social Affairs and KAPE, 1976). However, it is demonstrated that the prevalence has been steadily declining. In this connection the present intention is to strengthen the control activity and also to attempt eradication from this country. In assessing the desirability of special control programme of ascariasis, the research team of the Institute of Endemic Diseases, College of Medicine, Seoul National Uniγersity designed a projected programme in 1!)76 under the ultimate purpose to investigate more effective and efficient mass treatment strategy. The project was carried 。u t for three years from 1977 to 1980 on the inhabitants of a rural area, Hyangnam Myon, Hwasung Gun , Kyunggi Do, through the rese arch grants froπ Asian Parasite Control Organization, The Ministry of Education , Republic of Korea and others The above pilot project was quite successfully pursued in order to make greater progress towards the control of ascariasis in this country The author would like to present and discuss the obtained results with brief review of literature. The main subjects dealt in this paper were biological and epidemiological parameters related to the control and approaches to tho control strategy