Zoonotic Disease Control
Designation of zoonotic diseases
- Zoonotic diseases (Zoonosis) are "infectious diseases caused by pathogens transmitted between animals and humans." More than 60% of all infectious diseases are zoonotic diseases, and over 75% of newly emerging infectious diseases since the 20th century have originated from wild animals.
- Currently, in Korea, 13 zoonotic infectious diseases are designated by official notice and managed to monitor their occurrence, prevent outbreaks in advance, and improve public health.
Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency Notice No. 2024-1
(January 1, 2024)Zoonotic diseases (13 types): Enterohemorrhagic E. coli infection, Japanese encephalitis, Brucellosis, Anthrax, Rabies, Human infection with avian influenza, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), Variant Creutzfeldt–Jakob Disease (vCJD), Q fever, Tuberculosis, Severe Fever with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome (SFTS), Enteric infections (Salmonella infection, Campylobacter infection)
Download - Among the 13 legally designated zoonotic diseases, the first-class infectious diseases — Anthrax, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), and human infection with avian influenza — have had no domestic cases in the past 10 years (avian influenza to date). Enterohemorrhagic E. coli, Salmonella, and Campylobacter infections have shown a slight increase. Brucellosis cases in humans have decreased due to active quarantine measures in livestock, with fewer than 10 cases per year since 2013, when 16 cases were reported. Q fever had many reported cases in 2018–2019 but has gradually decreased since 2020..
Inter-ministerial and local government officials’ zoonotic disease simulation training
- To strengthen the field response capacity of officials from related agencies (KDCA, Ministry of Environment, Ministry of National Defense, Ministry of the Interior and Safety, local governments, etc.) in preparation for zoonotic disease outbreaks, the 2022 “Inter-ministerial One Health Leadership Training Program” was converted into case-based simulation training on zoonotic diseases.
Enteric infections (Salmonella infection, Campylobacter infection) were added to the zoonotic disease notice on January 1, 2024, and have been recorded by category through the sentinel surveillance system since 2015.
Category, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 Table Category 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 Anthrax 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Human infection with avian influenza 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Tuberculosis 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 3 2 Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli infection 61 111 71 104 138 121 146 270 311 211 216 274 Japanese encephalitis 14 26 40 28 9 17 34 7 23 11 17 21 Brucellosis 16 8 5 4 6 4 5 4 5 5 5 5 Rabies 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Variant Creutzfeldt–Jakob Disease (vCJD) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Q fever 8 27 81 96 163 162 94 46 56 57 57 57 Severe Fever with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome (SFTS) 36 55 79 165 272 259 223 243 172 193 198 170 Salmonella infection - - 788 1,152 2,282 2,399 2,661 1,939 2,999 3,082 3,540 3,789 Campylobacter infection - - 664 1,018 1,472 2,686 3,412 3,436 3,368 3,173 3,167 3,354 - This training uses the Joint Risk Assessment Operational Tool (JRA OT) for case-based simulation exercises, enhancing understanding of the One Health concept and strengthening preparedness and response capacity for emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases. Guidelines used for conducting joint risk assessments, developed in 2020 by the Tripartite (FAO, WOAH, WHO) with participation from experts in each field.