Parasitic worms may be rampant in North Korea.

Experts, based on the medical records of North Korean defectors, believe that parasitic worm infections may be rampant in North Korea.

Doctor Lee Cook-Jong reports on the parasitic worm infection situation of North Korean soldiers who defected. Photo: CNN.

The fact that North Korean soldiers who defected are infected with parasitic worms and hepatitis B reflects the inadequate health situation of the country's population, CNN reported yesterday, citing assessments from experts.

On November 13, North Korean soldier Oh was hit by five bullets out of 40 shots fired by his comrades from pistols and AK-47s as he risked his life crossing the demilitarized zone to defect to South Korea.Korean doctors then had to perform emergency surgery to save Oh's life.The wound caused him to lose a lot of blood.

During treatment, doctors discovered that Oh had a large number of parasitic worms in his small intestine, including some worms that were 27 cm long.Doctor Lee Cook-Jong is in charge of treatment.hhug 22/11 cThey learned that the soldier also had hepatitis B, a disease that can easily lead to liver cancer.

According to David Heymann, professor of infectious disease epidemiology at the London School of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, a person infected with hepatitis B may reflect poor sterilization practices in a country's hospitals.

"Hepatitis B is primarily transmitted through unsterilized needles or through sexual contact," Professor Heymann said.

Oh, he's not the first North Korean defector to be found to have severe parasitic infections or hepatitis B.College of Medicine, Dankook University, South Korea in researchIn 2015, among 169 North Korean defectors, 7 out of 17 women were found to be infected with parasitic worms. The rate of hepatitis B infection was mOne in 10 people.

Parasitology expertChoi Min-ho, a professor at the College of Medicine, Seoul National University, argues thatAt least half of North Korea's population is infected with parasitic worms.

"For those who can afford good food and are wealthy, parasitic worm infections may not be a big problem. But for malnourished people, parasitic worm infections can be a more serious issue because these parasites absorb many essential nutrients," Professor Choi said.

According to the professor,The use of human waste as fertilizer for crops and poor hygiene conditions, such as not washing hands after using the toilet, are contributing factors to the spread of disease-causing parasites in North Korea.

While eliminating worms and parasites is easy with medication, Choi said it's difficult to do in North Korea."This is a vicious cycle that is difficult to break in North Korea. People struggle to meet their basic needs and are unable to implement effective preventative measures," he said.

The health of the North Korean defector is improving. Doctor Lee said all the parasitic worms have been removed. After recovering, Oh requested to listen to K-pop.

According to VNE