After the Korean War, the disease was designated as endemic in the area of DMZ and since then has gradually spread southwesterly, Fig. 2. A conspicuous increase in the number of the civilian cases was observed in 1970's. However, most cases are still reported near the area of the DMZ where Korean soldiers are stationed. While a few cases usually occur throughout the year, the seasonal pattern of outbreaks marks in two peaks, small one is in June and large peak in October through December, Fig. The occurrence of more than one case in the same house is extremely rare.
Main victims are farmers and soldiers stationing in the field.
Small numbers of patients have been reported from the surrounding towns recently. The reservoir of KHF in the endemic areas in Korea is Apodemus agrarius coreae. Three patients had occurred among the personells who dealt with naturally and experimentally infected Apodemus agrarius coreae with KHF agent in our laboratory. The mode of transmission of the agent from infected Apodemus to normal Apodemus and to man are not clarified yet. 1 Map showing endemic areas of hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome Japan Epidemic Hem.