International Health Guide Korea
North Korea Embassy: GMT +0 hrs Entry Requirements: Telephone Country Code: Embassies/Consulates: North Korean Mission to the U.N.: 212-972-3106. No diplomatic relations with the U.S. The Embassy of Sweden is contact in Pyongyang: (850)-2-381-7523. Hospitals / Doctors: Current Advisories & Health Risks Dengue Fever: No apparent risk. Helminthic Infections: Low risk of ascariasis and hookworm disease. Anisakiasis, fascioliasis, fasciolopsiasis, paragonimiasis, and clonorchiasis are endemic. Travelers should avoid eating uncooked water plants and raw or undercooked seafood and shellfish, including Ke Jang (raw crab in soy sauce). Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome (HFRS): Year-round risk, countrywide. Elevated risk is associated with dusty, dry conditions and peak rodent populations. The virus (hantavirus) that causes HFRS is transmitted by infected rodent secretions (e.g., excreta) and virus-carrying dust particles. Most cases occur from October through December, associated with peak human activity in rodent-infected areas during harvest. Hepatitis: All nonimmune travelers should receive hepatitis A vaccine prior to visiting this country. The hepatitis B carrier rate in the general population is estimated at 6%–9%. Vaccination against hepatitis B is recommended for anyone planning an extended visit to this country. Hepatitis C is endemic. Japanese Encephalitis (JE): Risk is present, but at low levels. There is no risk of JE in Seoul. Cases of Japanese encephalitis have been reported in the southwest during the transmission season, June through October. Vaccination is recommended for travelers who will be staying in rural-agricultural endemic areas longer than 2–3 weeks during the peak transmission season. All travelers to rural areas should take measures to prevent mosquito bites. Malaria: Low risk. The U.S. military has reported cases of vivax malaria in soldiers stationed near the DMZ. Malaria is not considered a threat to tourists and prophylaxis is not currently recommended for travelers. Other Diseases/Hazards: Filariasis (low risk occurs in southern coastal provinces, especially Chejudo), leptospirosis (elevated risk associated with areas of stagnant water and muddy soils), rabies (extremely rare), murine typhus (flea-borne), scrub typhus (mite-borne; risk elevated in grassy rural areas; 90% occur October–December), tuberculosis (highly endemic), typhoid fever, and acute hemorrhagic conjunctivitis. Animal hazards include centipedes and black widow spiders. Lynxes, bears, and wild boars may be encountered in remote areas. Travelers' Diarrhea: Medium to high risk outside of first-class hotels and resorts. Travelers are advised to drink only bottled, boiled, filtered, or treated water and consume only well-cooked food. All fruit should be peeled prior to consumption. A quinolone antibiotic is recommended for the treatment of acute diarrhea. Diarrhea not responding to antibiotic treatment may be due to a parasitic disease such as giardiasis, amebiasis, or cryptosporidiosis.