Jinan County Offers Free Screening for 12 Types of Intestinal Parasites

Free Examinations from the 17th to 21st
...Preventing Parasitic Diseases

Jinan County Public Health Center in North Jeolla Province announced on the 13th that it will conduct free examinations for 12 types of intestinal parasites for local residents from the 17th to the 21st.

The county has continuously carried out an intestinal parasite eradication project every year since 2009 due to its regional characteristics of having the Seomjingang and Geumgang rivers.

Infection Rates of Intestinal Parasites by Watershed of the Five Major Rivers. Provided by Jinan County

In particular, clonorchiasis, which has a high infection rate, is a high-risk pathogen designated by the World Health Organization (WHO) as a primary cause of cholangiocarcinoma. When infected, it can parasitize the bile duct for a long period, causing symptoms such as abdominal pain, fever, diarrhea, and jaundice, and in severe cases, may develop into cholecystitis or cholangiocarcinoma.

In last year's examination, two cases of clonorchiasis and one case of intestinal fluke infection were found, and free medication was provided. For those who tested positive for clonorchiasis, a follow-up examination was conducted after three months to confirm a complete cure, and continuous monitoring was carried out.

This year, Jinan County Public Health Center plans to focus on residents of towns and villages with relatively high clonorchiasis infection rates over the past three years. Eligible individuals are those living near rivers or residents who consume raw freshwater fish, and applications can be made at the public health center, health sub-centers, or health clinics.

Ra Younghyun, Head of Health Administration, said, "To prevent parasitic infections, cutting boards, knives, and dishcloths should be sterilized in boiling water before use, freshwater fish must be thoroughly cooked before consumption, and the recommendation or handling of raw freshwater fish should be avoided." He added, "We will continue to promote education and public awareness campaigns to prevent parasitic infectious diseases among residents."