CHAPTER
2: 1961–1979
3.3 Communicable disease control 3.3.1 Cholera In 1969, cholera outbreaks erupted in Gunsan-myeon and in Gochang, Jeollabuk-do, on 28 and 29 August, respectively. The Graduate School of Public Health at Seoul National University conducted an epidemiological investigation on 60 cholera patients in the Gunsan area from 4 to 26 September 1969. The results confirmed Vibrio cholerae biotype El Tor (sero type Ogawa) as the causative organism. Regarding an unusual mixed infection that occurred in a refugee village in Gunsan Port, Jeollabuk-do, the Government of the Republic of Korea requested an investigation by the WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific. Francisco J. Dy, WHO Regional Director for the Western Pacific, and Lo Yen, a microbiologist, came to the Republic of Korea for the investigation (44, 45). Around the same time, the epidemiology research team of the medical school at Seoul National University carried out an investigation of 127 cholera patients in 112 households in Seocheon, Chungcheongnam-do, and in Gunsan, Okgu and Gochang, Jeollabuk-do. The investigation was conducted on 4910 residents of 815 households in total, including the households with cholera patients. Of the patients, 22.3% received vaccination against cholera before its outbreak. The secondary infection rate was 2.6%. The average recovery period was 4.1 days, while half of those who died did not receive any treatment and lost their lives within 24 hours from the outbreak (46). Hong Jae-woong who participated in the field investigation, recalled the situation as follows:
The epidemiological investigation of the cholera outbreak in Gunsan and Okgu, Jeollabuk-do, in 1969 was
the first task that I was involved in for the healthcare project. The epidemiology investigation team led by Kwon E-hyock had to find the source of the infection in the region. The following year, there was another outbreak of cholera in Changyeong, Busan and Daegu, and I participated in those investigations as well. At that time, it was almost certain that the source of the disease was the cholera bacteria, but in the early stage, the Government was reluctant to confirm the fact, calling it an “unidentified epidemic”. The Government was concerned that its confirmation would have a negative impact on trade – the export of goods – in those regions, and furthermore on the national economy. I remember the Government delayed in declaring the regions as contaminated by cholera and only did so when the situation grew out of hand. After the epidemiological investigation in Gunsan, Lee Sung-woo, the section chief of infectious disease prevention at the Ministry of Health and Social Affairs, held a press conference at Gunsan City Hall to announce the result of the investigation. Michael Anthal, a WHO adviser, also participated. One impressive scene was when photojournalists rushed to take a picture of Anthal, but Lee Sung-woo tried to hide the adviser’s face with some documents. It was to avoid leaving a photo that would make it seem as though WHO was officially acknowledging that those regions were contaminated with the cholera virus (47). More than a year after the outbreak of the cholera epidemics, WHO announced the end of the outbreaks in the Republic of Korea in October 1970 (48).
60 70 years working together for health – the World Health Organization and the Republic of Korea
