Overseas Travel, Pet Increase, Parasite Infection Watch
Sep 08, 2025
The KH Korea Health Management Association (Chairman Kim In-won, hereinafter referred to as 'Health Cooperative') warned that the risk of parasite infection could increase.
According to data from the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's infectious disease portal, the number of reports of parasitic infections in Korea has been decreasing every year from 3,296 in 2014 to 551 in 2024.
Recently, however, due to overseas travel, changes in eating out culture, and the increase in companion animals, rare or rare cases of parasitic infections in Korea have been reported in more diverse ways than in the past.
According to the Medical Check Institute of the Konhyup, "There are cases where they are exposed to parasitic eggs living in the soil while collecting wild vegetables or gardening, and raw or overcooked freshwater fish such as marsh snail or freshwater fish such as sweetfish commonly encountered in amusement parks can also cause infection.", he explained.
In fact, the Health Cooperative analyzed cases of infection with rare parasites while eating raw or undercooked freshwater snails and freshwater fish and published the results of the study. This case was a woman in her 60s who visited the internal medicine clinic with symptoms such as intermittent gastrointestinal discomfort, indigestion, constipation, and diarrhea. General blood and organ function test levels were normal, but colonoscopy revealed four actively parasitic adults in the ileum, cecum, and ascending colonic mucosa.
The Medychek Laboratory of the National Health Cooperative transferred the parasite and finally confirmed it as a type of absorbent flow, 'pre-testine fluke', through morphological and genetic analysis. The parasite is a rare species found in Korea, and it has been confirmed again in 10 years since the report of infection cases in 2014. In particular, it is noteworthy that it has also been found at the distal end of the small intestine and in the large intestine, unlike common flukes found mostly in the small intestine.
The MediCheck Institute has published a paper that contains the contents of this study 'rare cases of previous testicular fluke infections in Korea' in the SCIE-level journal of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) 'Emerging Infectious Diseases (EID).'
As the Korea Parasite Eradication Association is the birthplace of the Korea Parasite Eradication Association, it plays a role as a specialized parasite inspection agency that conducts research, research, and prevention projects for parasitic infectious diseases in accordance with the Infectious Disease Prevention and Management Act.
Seventeen branches (health examination centers) across the country are conducting accurate identification tests for parasites found during endoscopy of examination visitors and providing results. This process naturally leads to the surveillance of specimens of major parasites still found in the country, such as roundworms, whipworms, whale roundworms, and unstructured worms.
In addition, tests are conducted on suspected parasite samples requested by medical institutions such as university hospitals and general hospitals. Through this, it is helping to increase the accuracy of clinical diagnosis by providing quick and accurate results to suspected parasitic infections that are difficult to discriminate in the medical field.
In addition, they are actively participating in the parasite investigation project of the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Every year, a survey of parasitic infections is conducted on local residents to identify the prevalence of parasitic diseases in Korea and provide basic data necessary for establishing infectious disease prevention policies.
MediCheck Lab says "The cooperative's parasite testing system is providing practical help to the medical field and contributes to maintaining the ability to diagnose parasites in Korea."In addition, we run the Parasite Museum, delivering correct information about Parasites to the general public and students, and promoting the importance of hygiene and health through exhibitions and experiences."
According to data from the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's infectious disease portal, the number of reports of parasitic infections in Korea has been decreasing every year from 3,296 in 2014 to 551 in 2024.
Recently, however, due to overseas travel, changes in eating out culture, and the increase in companion animals, rare or rare cases of parasitic infections in Korea have been reported in more diverse ways than in the past.
According to the Medical Check Institute of the Konhyup, "There are cases where they are exposed to parasitic eggs living in the soil while collecting wild vegetables or gardening, and raw or overcooked freshwater fish such as marsh snail or freshwater fish such as sweetfish commonly encountered in amusement parks can also cause infection.", he explained.
In fact, the Health Cooperative analyzed cases of infection with rare parasites while eating raw or undercooked freshwater snails and freshwater fish and published the results of the study. This case was a woman in her 60s who visited the internal medicine clinic with symptoms such as intermittent gastrointestinal discomfort, indigestion, constipation, and diarrhea. General blood and organ function test levels were normal, but colonoscopy revealed four actively parasitic adults in the ileum, cecum, and ascending colonic mucosa.
The Medychek Laboratory of the National Health Cooperative transferred the parasite and finally confirmed it as a type of absorbent flow, 'pre-testine fluke', through morphological and genetic analysis. The parasite is a rare species found in Korea, and it has been confirmed again in 10 years since the report of infection cases in 2014. In particular, it is noteworthy that it has also been found at the distal end of the small intestine and in the large intestine, unlike common flukes found mostly in the small intestine.
The MediCheck Institute has published a paper that contains the contents of this study 'rare cases of previous testicular fluke infections in Korea' in the SCIE-level journal of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) 'Emerging Infectious Diseases (EID).'
As the Korea Parasite Eradication Association is the birthplace of the Korea Parasite Eradication Association, it plays a role as a specialized parasite inspection agency that conducts research, research, and prevention projects for parasitic infectious diseases in accordance with the Infectious Disease Prevention and Management Act.
Seventeen branches (health examination centers) across the country are conducting accurate identification tests for parasites found during endoscopy of examination visitors and providing results. This process naturally leads to the surveillance of specimens of major parasites still found in the country, such as roundworms, whipworms, whale roundworms, and unstructured worms.
In addition, tests are conducted on suspected parasite samples requested by medical institutions such as university hospitals and general hospitals. Through this, it is helping to increase the accuracy of clinical diagnosis by providing quick and accurate results to suspected parasitic infections that are difficult to discriminate in the medical field.
In addition, they are actively participating in the parasite investigation project of the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Every year, a survey of parasitic infections is conducted on local residents to identify the prevalence of parasitic diseases in Korea and provide basic data necessary for establishing infectious disease prevention policies.
MediCheck Lab says "The cooperative's parasite testing system is providing practical help to the medical field and contributes to maintaining the ability to diagnose parasites in Korea."In addition, we run the Parasite Museum, delivering correct information about Parasites to the general public and students, and promoting the importance of hygiene and health through exhibitions and experiences."
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This article was translated by Naver AI translator.
