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Press Release
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- Date2024-09-24 15:35
- Update2024-09-24 15:35
- DivisionDivision of Emergency Preparedness and Response
- Tel02-3384-1555
[A summarized unofficial version of the press release]
KDCA Unveils Proactive Pandemic Influenza Preparedness and Response Plan
- The plan aims to mitigate health, social, and economic impacts as pandemic influenza is highlighted as a leading candidate for the next pandemic.
Osong, 24th September 2024 – The KDCA announced the “Pandemic Influenza Preparedness and Response Plan” on September 6th, aimed at preparing for future pandemics.
This revised plan represents a comprehensive update after six years. It incorporates recommendations from the World Health Organization (WHO) regarding key priorities for national pandemic preparedness. The WHO has identified pandemic influenza as a significant candidate for the next pandemic, emphasizing the urgent need for countries to enhance their preparedness.
The new plan aims to minimize not only health impacts but also social and economic consequences during a pandemic. It encompasses a robust surveillance system, resource mobilization strategies, vaccination strategies, a One Health approach, and tailored response strategies to different pandemic phases, as outlined below.
First, to facilitate the early detection of emerging viruses, the number of surveillance institutions will be significantly increased from 300 to 1,000. Sophisticated predictive models employing genetic analysis and artificial intelligence (AI) will be developed.
Second, medical resources, including medical countermeasures, will be stockpiled to ensure readiness for the first six months following an outbreak. Additionally, infrastructure for genetic testing and rapid testing will be expanded, and the number of hospital beds for infectious diseases will increase from 1,100 to 3,500.
Third, predictive vaccines and prototypes will be developed to ensure availability within 100 or 200 days following an outbreak, while ongoing research and development (R&D) will focus on establishing mRNA vaccine platforms.
Fourth, the One Health approach will be strengthened. Animal influenza surveillance will be broadened to include various livestock species, and an early warning system will be established to facilitate preventive measures. This system will integrate and analyze data from human populations, animals, and their environments to detect risks at an early stage.
Response strategies will be adapted based on an outbreak's phases. In the initial phase, the focus will be on minimizing transmission. As the outbreak escalates, priorities will shift to preventing severe illness and deaths. Finally, during recovery, efforts will concentrate on rebuilding and preparing for future outbreaks.
In the early stages of an outbreak, rapidly acquiring pathogen information through in-depth epidemiological investigations of initial cases will be critical. Emergency response systems will be activated to manage patients, determine and provide diagnostic tests, and expedite R&D efforts to secure vaccines.
As the outbreak progresses, ensuring an effective medical response is essential to prevent severe cases while maintaining stable management of medical resources. Vaccination infrastructure, established prior to the outbreak, will be activated to prioritize high-risk populations and facilitate rapid, large-scale vaccination campaigns.
During the recovery phase, the focus will shift to rebuilding, emphasizing future pandemic preparedness. It will include a prioritized and effective recovery process and the establishment of complementary measures based on a comprehensive response evaluation.
“A pandemic impacts not only public health but also essential services across sectors such as education and industry. Therefore, preparedness is crucial to minimize damage,” emphasized Dr. Youngmee Jee, Commissioner of the KDCA.
The KDCA calls for close collaboration among relevant ministries to ensure effective pandemic preparedness and implementation of response plans. The KDCA intends to share this framework with the international community to assist other countries in developing their plans, thereby contributing to global pandemic preparedness.
* For detailed information, please refer to the press release written in the Korean language in the file attached below.