Number of Heat-Related Illness Cases Drops Below 100 for First Time in Three Days
Cumulative Cases This Year Are 2.9 Times Higher Than Last Year
The number of heat-related illness cases, which had been rapidly increasing, dropped to double digits per day after three days.
According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) on July 11, a total of 76 people visited 516 emergency rooms nationwide with heat-related illnesses the previous day. There were no fatalities.
As a result, the cumulative number of heat-related illness cases since the KDCA activated its surveillance system on May 15 has risen to 1,440 as of the previous day.
Counting from last year's surveillance start date of May 20, there have been 1,424 heat-related illness cases this summer (including 9 deaths), which is 2.9 times higher than the same period last year (495 cases, including 3 deaths).
The number of heat-related illness cases surged sharply this month due to the record-breaking heatwave that arrived earlier than usual. On July 8, just 54 days after the surveillance system began operating this year, the cumulative number of cases surpassed 1,000 for the first time. This was the earliest point this milestone has been reached since the system began in 2011. Notably, 254 cases were reported on July 8 alone, the highest single-day total since 2011. On the previous day, 76 cases were reported, marking the first time in three days since July 7 (105 cases) that the daily number fell below 100.
Heat-related illness is an acute condition caused by exposure to heat. Prolonged exposure to hot environments can lead to symptoms such as headache, dizziness, muscle cramps, fatigue, and impaired consciousness. If left untreated, it can be life-threatening.
This summer, 77.5% of heat-related illness cases involved men, and more than three out of every ten patients (33.5%) were seniors aged 65 or older. By occupation, simple laborers accounted for the largest share at 25.1%. In terms of location, the vast majority of cases (79.9%) occurred outdoors.
By type of illness, heat exhaustion, which is caused by dehydration and accounts for 58.3% of cases, was the most common. This was followed by heat stroke (18.8%) and heat cramps (12.3%).
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
