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. This council was established to systematically address the increasingly frequent occurrence of zoonotic diseases.
Until now, infectious disease management has focused primarily on human-centered health policies. However, with the launch of this council, various ministries including the Ministry of Health and Welfare, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, and the Ministry of Environment will cooperate to build an integrated infectious disease management system that encompasses the animal and environmental sectors.
The council held its first meeting to discuss information sharing and rapid response measures between ministries in the event of an infectious disease outbreak. Moving forward, the council will be responsible for establishing a government-wide joint response strategy to block the influx of infectious diseases and minimize damage should an outbreak occur.
The government expects this integrated management system to play a significant role in protecting the safety of the public. The government also plans to continue working with various experts to create an even more robust infectious disease response network.