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Deforestation Increases the Risk of Scrub Typhus in Korea

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  • Kyung-Duk Min

    (Institute of Health and Environment, Seoul National University, 1 Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul 08826, Korea)

  • Ju-Yeun Lee

    (Department of Public Health Science, Graduate School of Public Health, Seoul National University, 1 Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul 08826, Korea)

  • Yeonghwa So

    (Department of Public Health Science, Graduate School of Public Health, Seoul National University, 1 Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul 08826, Korea)

  • Sung-il Cho

    (Institute of Health and Environment, Seoul National University, 1 Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul 08826, Korea
    Department of Public Health Science, Graduate School of Public Health, Seoul National University, 1 Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul 08826, Korea)

Abstract

Background : Scrub typhus is an important public health issue in Korea. Risk factors for scrub typhus include both individual-level factors and environmental drivers, and some are related to the increased density of vector mites and rodents, the natural hosts of the mites. In this regard, deforestation is a potential risk factor, because the deforestation-induced secondary growth of scrub vegetation may increase the densities of mites and rodents. To examine this hypothesis, this study investigated the association between scrub typhus and deforestation. Methods : We acquired district-level data for 2006–2017, including the number of cases of scrub typhus reported annually, deforestation level, and other covariates. Deforestation was assessed using preprocessed remote-sensing satellite data. Bayesian regression models, including Poisson, negative binomial, zero-inflated Poisson, and zero-inflated negative binomial models, were examined, and spatial autocorrelation was considered in hierarchical models. A sensitivity analysis was conducted using different accumulation periods for the deforestation level to examine the robustness of the association. Results : The final models showed a significant association between deforestation and the incidence of scrub typhus (relative risk = 1.20, 95% credible interval = 1.15–1.24). The sensitivity analysis gave consistent results, and a potential long-term effect of deforestation for up to 5 years was shown. Conclusion : The results support the potential public health benefits of forest conservation by suppressing the risk of scrub typhus, implying the need for strong engagement of public health sectors in conservation issues from a One Health perspective.

Suggested Citation

  • Kyung-Duk Min & Ju-Yeun Lee & Yeonghwa So & Sung-il Cho, 2019. "Deforestation Increases the Risk of Scrub Typhus in Korea," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(9), pages 1-10, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:16:y:2019:i:9:p:1518-:d:227002
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Bipin Kumar Acharya & Wei Chen & Zengliang Ruan & Gobind Prasad Pant & Yin Yang & Lalan Prasad Shah & Chunxiang Cao & Zhiwei Xu & Meghnath Dhimal & Hualiang Lin, 2019. "Mapping Environmental Suitability of Scrub Typhus in Nepal Using MaxEnt and Random Forest Models," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(23), pages 1-14, December.

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