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Summer travel alert: How to stay safe from measles while abroad
As international travel surges this summer, so does the risk of measles infection. According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, 65 measles cases have been reported domestically as of July 5, a 40 percent increase from last year. A striking 70.8 percent of these cases were imported, most commonly from Vietnam, followed by Thailand, Italy, Uzbekistan and Mongolia. Another 19 cases were linked to domestic transmission from imported infections. Measles, an extremely contagious virus
July 28, 2025 -
South Korea’s health insurance crackdown reduces foreign dependents
A year after South Korea introduced stricter health insurance rules for foreign residents, misuse of the system has noticeably dropped, especially among Chinese nationals. According to the National Health Insurance Service, the number of Chinese dependents enrolled under Korea’s national health insurance fell from 111,059 in March 2024 to 106,243 in March 2025. That is a decrease of nearly 5,000 people within one year. The policy change was introduced amid growing concerns that foreign nationals
July 23, 2025 -
Is your summer safe? Cases of foodborne illness double in June
With South Korea entering the peak season for gastrointestinal illnesses, public health officials are urging heightened vigilance as cases linked to contaminated food and water nearly doubled in the past month. According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency on Wednesday, sentinel surveillance at 210 hospitals with 200 or more beds showed a sharp rise in two of the most common bacterial culprits. Salmonella infections rose from 66 patients in the first week of June to 127 by the fou
July 9, 2025 -
Korean researchers unlock genetic clues to lupus
In a major leap forward for autoimmune disease research, South Korean researchers have developed a high-resolution genetic analysis tool that can precisely decode the complex immune-related gene cluster linked to lupus. This discovery not only deepens understanding of how lupus begins but also could lead to customized treatments tailored to individual genetic profiles, they say. “There are two major breakthroughs here,” said Professor Bae Sang-cheol of Hanyang University Hospital for Rheumatic D
July 8, 2025 -
S. Korea develops world's 1st recombinant anthrax vaccine
South Korea has developed the world's first recombinant protein-based anthrax vaccine, a major step toward self-sufficiency that could also open export markets for the new vaccine with fewer side effects, the government said. The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency partnered with private firm GC Biopharma Corp. to develop the vaccine that, unlike conventional versions, eliminates the risk of exposure to toxins produced by Bacillus anthracis, a high-risk pathogen considered a potential bi
July 7, 2025 -
Anaphylaxis awareness can save lives, health officials say
The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency said Sunday that it has launched a national campaign to raise awareness about anaphylaxis in light of the global initiative World Allergy Week, which spotlights one critical allergy each year. “Anaphylaxis is a sudden and severe allergic reaction that can be fatal without immediate intervention,” said KDCA Commissioner Jee Young-mi. “With proper awareness and education, we can prevent many of these emergencies and protect lives.” Anaphylaxis is a l
June 29, 2025 -
Stroke can significantly increase risk of irregular heartbeat: study
Suffering a cerebrovascular accident can increase the risk of a heart arrhythmia such as atrial fibrillation by up to seven times, according to a recent study by a Korean medical team released Thursday. The study analyzed the medical records of 98,706 patients who had experienced ischemic stroke and 47,695 patients who had suffered hemorrhagic stroke, using data from the National Health Insurance Service. The joint research was conducted by Samsung Medical Center, Soongsil University, Kosin Univ
June 28, 2025 -
Late-night snack attacks? Your brain might be the culprit
Summer has arrived. Yet, despite resolutions to stay fit, there's one habit that seems nearly impossible to shake off: late-night snacking. If your evenings inevitably end with a visit to the refrigerator or a delivery app opened around midnight, you might be experiencing what’s known as "night-eating syndrome." Night-eating syndrome, a relatively common but often overlooked condition, involves frequent episodes of eating large amounts of food during late-night hours. Individuals with this syndr
June 24, 2025 -
Do kids really gain more weight when moms work longer hours?
Children whose mothers work long hours are more than twice as likely to develop abdominal obesity, according to a recent South Korean study examining the link between maternal working hours and metabolic health risks in adolescents. The study, conducted by Park Hoon-ki’s team from the department of family medicine at Hanyang University Hospital, analyzed data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 2016 to 2020, involving 2,598 children and adolescents aged 10 to 18.
May 26, 2025 -
‘Not my home’ delusion, a hub of other delusions haunting dementia patients, study finds
In a discovery that may help decode the minds of dementia patients, Korean researchers have identified a specific delusion — the belief that a person's own home is not truly theirs — as a central symptom in the complex network of delusions often seen in dementia. Published in the American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, the study was led by professor Kwak Yong-tae of Hyoja Geriatric Hospital and professor Yang Young-soon of Soonchunhyang University Hospital. The research team analyzed 102 demen
May 16, 2025 -
Bio Korea 2025 kicks off in Seoul to explore future of biohealth industry
Bio Korea 2025, South Korea's largest health and pharmaceutical industry trade fair, kicked off Wednesday, bringing together some 750 companies from across the world to showcase the latest technological innovations and trends in the bio sector. The annual trade show, now in its 20th year, opened at the Convention and Exhibition Center in southern Seoul for a three-day run under the theme "Innovation and Cooperation, Shaping the Future Together," according to its organizers. Some 30,000 visitors
May 7, 2025 -
How much are our genes to blame for our allergies?
As spring arrives with blooming flowers and warmer weather, so too come the sneezing, itchy eyes, and runny noses that plague millions of people each year. Spring allergies, often triggered by pollen from trees, grasses and other plants, are one of the most common seasonal health concerns. But where do allergies come from, and why do some people suffer more than others? Allergies are hypersensitive immune responses to substances that are generally harmless to most people. These substances, known
April 2, 2025 -
Workplace stress identified as leading factor in employee depression: study
A research team at Kangbuk Samsung Hospital announced Wednesday it has published a study finding that workplace-related stress is the most significant factor contributing to depression among employees, regardless of gender or age. The research team, led by researchers Jeon Sang-won and Cho Sung-joon of the hospital's psychiatry department, analyzed data from 12,541 employees aged 19 to 65 who underwent mental health checkups at the hospital between April 2020 and November 2022. The study examine
Feb. 26, 2025 -
Busan hospital research team publishes 10-year study on scar-free alternative to thyroid surgery
A research team at Haeundae Sharing and Happiness Hospital, a local hospital in Busan, published its study on the effectiveness and safety of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) as a treatment for thyroid cancer in an international medical journal "Thyroid" last month, the hospital said in a statement released Monday. The study demonstrates its 10-year track record of patients with low-risk papillary thyroid microcarcinoma who underwent RFA treatment. This study is regarded as the world's longest-runn
Feb. 11, 2025