Government-wide ‘National One Health Infectious Disease Integrated Management Council’ Officially Launched
The South Korean government has officially launched the ‘National One Health Infectious Disease Integrated Management Council,’ which connects the health of humans, animals, and the environment to respond to infectious diseases as one. This council was established to systematically respond to increasingly complex infectious disease crises at a government-wide level.
‘One Health’ is the concept that human health is closely linked to the health of animals and the environment. With the frequent emergence of new infectious diseases due to recent climate change and environmental destruction, health authorities have determined that an integrated management system encompassing not only humans but also animals and the environment is necessary.
The newly launched council held its first meeting to discuss inter-ministerial cooperation plans for responding to infectious diseases. Moving forward, the council plans to share information rapidly in the event of an infectious disease outbreak and consolidate response policies that were previously scattered across ministries to build an efficient quarantine system.
The government expects that this council will further strengthen its ability to prevent and respond early to infectious diseases. As the government is making multifaceted efforts to protect the safety of its citizens, the future implementation process of these policies is drawing attention.