기후 위기 시대의 감염병: 창발과 재유행

Infectious Diseases in an Era of Climate Crisis: Emergence and Resurgence

Background: The climate crisis notably threatens global public health by altering the epidemiology of infectious diseases. South Korea, which is experiencing climate change faster than the global average, urgently requires systematic response strategies for climate-sensitive diseases. Objectives: This review examines climate change impacts on infectious diseases and analyzes domestic incidence patterns, synthesizing research on vector-borne, water/food-borne, and fungal diseases as well antibiotic resistance in an effort to provide evidence for public health responses. Methods: We analyzed the academic literature (2010~2024) through the OpenAlex database and national surveillance data from the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service and the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (2010~2023). Results: The global literature confirms temperature-driven geographic expansion of vector-borne diseases (dengue, Lyme disease) and extreme weather associations with water/food-borne outbreaks and the spread of antibiotic resistance. Notably, our domestic analysis reveals significant upward trends in tsutsugamushi disease, SFTS, and Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales infections, directly correlating with observed climate patterns in Korea—providing unique regional evidence previously undocumented in Asian temperate zones. Conclusions: The climate crisis tangibly amplifies infectious disease threats, necessitating enhanced surveillance systems integrating climatic factors from a One Health perspective. Establishing integrated monitoring frameworks with specific climate-health indicators is essential for evidence-based policy development and proactive public health interventions in South Korea.