Scrub typhus in the era of climate change: exploring lagged and cumulative effects of meteorological factors in the Republic of Korea, 2001-2024, a nationwide time-series study.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

Scrub typhus, caused by Orientia tsutsugamushi, is a climate-sensitive vector-borne disease with high incidence in the Republic of Korea. This study examined long-term epidemiological trends and changing meteorological influences in the context of climate change.

Methods

A retrospective time-series study was conducted using national surveillance data on 149,289 scrub typhus cases (2001-2024) across 4 surveillance phases. Temporal trends in age-standardized incidence rates were evaluated using Joinpoint regression. Associations between monthly meteorological variables and incidence were assessed with Spearman correlation analysis and time-series regression analysis using distributed lag non-linear models.

Results

The national incidence increased until 2017 a

SUBMITTER: Lee HY 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12611527 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature