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2 "En-Joo Jung"
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Original Articles
The association between the consumption of raw Kudoa septempunctata–infected farmed Paralichthys olivaceus and gastrointestinal symptoms
Jihye An, En-Joo Jung, Soon-Ok Lee, Jong-Hoon Choi, JungHee Kim, Sung-Jong Hong, Sung-Hee Hong, Jung-Won Ju, Hyungjun Kim, Kwang-Pil Ko
Epidemiol Health. 2026;48:e2026003.   Published online January 19, 2026
DOI: https://doi.org/10.4178/epih.e2026003
  • 3,119 View
  • 102 Download
AbstractAbstract AbstractSummary PDFSupplementary Material
Abstract
OBJECTIVES
<i>Kudoa septempunctata</i> has been identified as the causative agent of food poisoning following the consumption of raw farmed <i>Paralichthys olivaceus</i>. However, cohort studies providing robust evidence for an association between <i>K. septempunctata</i> and gastrointestinal symptoms remain limited. This prospective cohort study investigated the association between the consumption of <i>K. septempunctata</i>–infected farmed <i>P. olivaceus</i> and the occurrence of gastrointestinal symptoms.
METHODS
Individuals who purchased raw farmed <i>P. olivaceus</i> between 2020 and 2021 were selected as the study population. Study data included 2 rounds of questionnaire surveys administered before and after consumption, 2 muscle specimens obtained from each purchased fish, and human biological specimens collected from individuals who developed gastrointestinal symptoms within 24 hours after consumption. Data were analyzed using the chi-square test and t-test, and the association between consumption of <i>K. septempunctata</i>–infected farmed <i>P. olivaceus</i> and gastrointestinal symptoms was evaluated using relative risk estimates between exposure groups.
RESULTS
The relative risk of gastrointestinal symptoms associated with exposure to <i>K. septempunctata</i>–infected <i>P. olivaceus</i> ranged from 71.2 (95% confidence interval [CI], 27.0 to 178.6) to 124.5 (95% CI, 43.5 to 355.0) across the 2 case definitions. A strong and statistically significant association was observed between exposure to <i>K. septempunctata</i>–infected <i>P. olivaceus</i> and the development of acute gastrointestinal symptoms.
CONCLUSIONS
These findings indicate both an association and a causal relationship between consumption of <i>K. septempunctata</i>–infected farmed <i>P. olivaceus</i> and the onset of gastrointestinal symptoms.
Summary
Korean summary
본 연구는 Kudoa septempunctata에 감염된 광어회 섭취가 위장관 증상과 연관되며, 감염 강도와 섭취량에 따라 증상의 중증도가 증가한다는 전향적 근거를 제시한다. 이러한 결과는 역학적 공백을 보완하며, 감시체계 강화와 예방 중심의 정책 마련의 필요성을 강조한다.
Key Message
This study provides prospective evidence that consumption of raw halibut infected with Kudoa septempunctata is associated with gastrointestinal symptoms, with the severity of symptoms increasing with the intensity of infection and the amount consumed. These results address a gap in epidemiological knowledge and highlight the need for strengthened surveillance systems and prevention-focused policies.
Decreased birth weight after prenatal exposure to wildfires on the eastern coast of Korea in 2000
En-Joo Jung, Ah-Young Lim, Jong-Hun Kim
Epidemiol Health. 2023;45:e2023003.   Published online December 9, 2022
DOI: https://doi.org/10.4178/epih.e2023003
  • 20,217 View
  • 224 Download
  • 12 Web of Science
  • 7 Crossref
AbstractAbstract AbstractSummary PDFSupplementary Material
Abstract
OBJECTIVES
In April 2000, a series of wildfires occurred simultaneously in five adjacent small cities located on the eastern coast of Korea. These wildfires burned approximately 23,794 hectares of forestland over several days. We investigated the effects of prenatal exposure to the by-products generated by wildfire disasters on birth weight.
METHODS
Birth weight data were obtained for 1999-2001 from the birth registration database of the Korean National Statistical Office and matched with the zip code and exposed/unexposed pregnancy week for days of the wildfires. Generalized linear models were then used to assess the associations between birth weight and exposure to wildfires after adjusting for fetal sex, gestational age, parity, maternal age, maternal education, paternal education, and average exposed atmospheric temperature.
RESULTS
Compared with unexposed pregnancies before and after the wildfires, mean birth weight decreased by 41.4 g (95% confidence interval [CI], -72.4 to -10.4) after wildfire exposure during the first trimester, 23.2 g (95% CI, -59.3 to 13.0) for exposure during the second trimester, and 27.0 g (95% CI, -63.8 to 9.8) during the third trimester. In the adjusted model for infants exposed in utero during any trimester, the mean birth weight decreased by 32.5 g (95% CI, -53.2 to -11.7).
CONCLUSIONS
We observed a 1% reduction in birth weight after wildfire exposure. Thus, exposure to by-products generated during a wildfire disaster during pregnancy may slow fetal growth and cause developmental delays.
Summary
Korean summary
산불로 인한 연소 부산물에 대한 태아기 노출이 출생 체중에 미치는 영향을 조사하였다. 산불 발생 전후로 연소 부산물에 노출되지 않았던 신생아와 비교하였을 때, 노출된 신생아의 평균 출생 체중은 32.5g (-53.2~-11.7g) 감소하였다. 임신 중 산불로 인한 연소 부산물에 대한 노출은 태아 성장을 느리게 하거나 발달 지연을 일으킬 수 있다.
Key Message
The study investigated the effects of prenatal exposure to by-products generated by wildfire disasters on birth weight. Compared to newborns who were not prenatally exposed to wildfire byproducts, exposed newborns had a 32.5 g (-53.2 to -11.7 g) reduction in birth weight. Exposure to wildfire by-products during pregnancy can slow fetal growth or cause developmental delays.

Citations

Citations to this article as recorded by  
  • Health impacts of a short-lived, small-scale wildfire in South Korea
    Changwoo Han, Jaiyong Kim, Hoyeon Jang, Yeseul Yun, Tarik Benmarhnia
    International Journal of Epidemiology.2026;[Epub]     CrossRef
  • Prenatal wildfire smoke exposure and adverse neonatal outcomes in a high-risk cohort of pregnant women with asthma
    Bronwyn K. Brew, Peter G. Gibson, Adam Collison, Wilfried Karmaus, Stuart Szwec, Elizabeth Holliday, Geoffrey Morgan, Karthik Gopi, Graeme Zosky, Megan E. Jensen, Vanessa M. McDonald, Paul D. Robinson, Joerg Mattes, Vanessa E. Murphy
    American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology.2026; 235(1): 146.     CrossRef
  • Domestic and Transboundary Impacts of High-Concentration PM2.5 Generated by Large-Scale Wildfire in South Korea
    Ui-Jae Lee, Myeong-Ju Kim, Jin-Young Kim, Sang-Deok Lee
    Advances in Atmospheric Sciences.2026; 43(7): 1347.     CrossRef
  • Epidemiological profile of the natural hazards-related disasters in Asia from 2000 to 2021
    Andrea Fernández García, Rick Kye Gan, José Antonio Cernuda Martínez, Pedro Arcos González
    Journal of Public Health Policy.2025; 46(3): 617.     CrossRef
  • Impact of climate change and environmental adversities on maternal and fetal health: the role of clinical practices and providers in mitigating effects and prioritising women's health in the UK
    Athina Samara, Thomas Hanton, Ranee Thakar, Eric Jauniaux, Asma Khalil
    Frontiers in Global Women's Health.2025;[Epub]     CrossRef
  • Wildfire Smoke: Health Effects, Mechanisms, and Mitigation
    Ying Lei, Tze-Huan Lei, Chan Lu, Xue Zhang, Faming Wang
    Environmental Science & Technology.2024; 58(48): 21097.     CrossRef
  • Natural Disaster Epidemiology and Reproductive Health
    Emily W. Harville, Bianka Northland
    Current Epidemiology Reports.2023; 10(4): 169.     CrossRef
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