PHWR Public Health Weekly Report

Vol.18 No.1, January 02, 2025 Article TypePolicy NotesQuickStatsSurveillance Reports

• Surveillance Reports 2025-01-02

  0 195 46

  State of Local Infectious Disease Response Personnel Before and After the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic

  Sumi Chae , Gang Jae Yun , Jina Jun , Jiyoung Shin , Subin Lee , Jin Ha , Yumi Kim , Minjeong Kwon

  Public Health Weekly Report 2025; 18(1): 1-16 https://doi.org/10.56786/PHWR.2025.18.1.1

  Abstract

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  With the amendment of the Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Act, ‘investigations of actual conditions of infectious diseases’ have been mandated to be conducted and published every 3 years to understand the actual conditions of the management and infection status of infectious diseases. The first phase of this survey generated foundational data on the occurrence of legally mandated infectious diseases before and after the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and the status of local government infectious disease response personnel. In this study, we focused on the key findings of this survey regarding the status of local government infectious disease response personnel. All metropolitan governments and 93.3% of local municipal governments participated in the survey. The primary content of the survey focused on the organizational structure for infectious disease response before (as of December 31, 2019) and after (as of December 31, 2023) the COVID-19 pandemic as well as the current status of personnel, such as disease control officers and epidemiologists, dedicated to legally mandated infectious diseases. The survey revealed an increase in the number of infectious disease organizations in both metropolitan and local municipal governments from 2019 to 2023. This survey was the first to be conducted following the revision of the Act and reflects the unique circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic. The survey findings highlights the significance of cooperation and communication with metropolitan and local municipal governments to refine the purpose and content of future infectious disease surveys and establish a stable survey system.

• Surveillance Reports 2025-01-02

  0 838 98

  Waterborne and Foodborne Disease Outbreaks in the Republic of Korea, 2023

  Myung-Jae Hwang , So Yeon Park , Hyungjun Kim , Se Jeong Yang , Sungchan Yang , Jin Seon Yang

  Public Health Weekly Report 2025; 18(1): 17-32 https://doi.org/10.56786/PHWR.2025.18.1.2

  

  

  Abstract

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  The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) is strengthening its management system by conducting nationwide epidemiological investigations and risk assessments for water and foodborne diseases. In addition, the KDCA operates the “Enhanced Surveillance of Water and Foodborne Disease Outbreaks” during high-risk periods from May to September every year. In 2023, 600 outbreaks were reported, including 329 large-scale and 271 small-scale incidents. Most outbreaks occurred in April (59, 9.8%), February (56, 9.3%), and December (55, 9.2%), with no significant increase during summer. Outbreaks were most frequent in restaurants (275, 45.8%), educational facilities (217, 36.2%), and group-living facilities (41, 6.8%), in that order. Most outbreaks occurred in educational facilities in March and September, coinciding with school opening, with 42 (7.0%) in elementary schools and 38 (6.3%) in kindergartens. The presumed source of infection was mainly “unknown” (373, 62.2%), followed by “carriers” (human-to-human transmission, food service employees, etc. [84, 14.0%]). “Norovirus” was the most commonly suspected pathogen (204, 34.0%), followed by “unknown” (182, 30.3%) and “ Salmonella” (48, 8.0%). Notably, 76.5% of outbreaks suspected of “Norovirus” were presumed to involve human-to-human transmission. As a analysis of water and foodborne disease outbreak in 2023, to prevent the spread of these diseases, it is essential to maintain an annual surveillance system, provide ongoing education for managers and workers in educational facilities, and promote personal hygiene education. Additionally, establishing surveillance systems to block transmission routes based on infection source characteristics is critical.

• Policy Notes 2025-01-02

  0 643 83

  Airport and Port Wastewater-based Infectious Disease Surveillance

  Dong-Ik Lee *, Seung-Hyuk Kim , Ok-Soo Kim

  Public Health Weekly Report 2025; 18(1): 33-43 https://doi.org/10.56786/PHWR.2025.18.1.3

  

  

  Abstract

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  As the global coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic unfolded, many countries, including the United States and those in Europe, introduced wastewater-based infectious disease surveillance systems to monitor infectious disease outbreak trends and proactively respond to emerging threats. These systems have become integral components of national infectious disease surveillance policies. In 2023, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) established the foundation for a pilot project of the Airport-Port Wastewater-based Infectious Disease Surveillance. In 2024, this initiative was launched, targeting airports, ports, and transportation vehicles (aircraft and ships) within the quarantine areas of 13 nationwide quarantine stations. In the future, the KDCA aims to collaborate with international wastewater surveillance consortia, domestic agencies, and related ministries to expand the scope of airport and port wastewater monitoring systems. Additionally, efforts will focus on enhancing laboratory techniques to develop a robust surveillance system capable of addressing national infectious disease crises.

• Policy Notes 2025-01-02

  1 504 30

  Medical Clinics Infection Control Status Survey Operation System

  Namyi Kim , Jeongsuk Song , Sook-Kyung Park

  Public Health Weekly Report 2025; 18(1): 44-57 https://doi.org/10.56786/PHWR.2025.18.1.4

  Abstract

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  To identify the current status and barriers of infection control in medical clinics in the Republic of Korea and establish foundational data for infection control support policies, the infection control survey system for hospital-level institutions during the first cycle was revised. Limitations of the self-administered online survey method (computer-assisted self-interviewing) were addressed by transitioning to an on-site survey format. The survey aimed to generate nationally representative statistics by ensuring the reliability and representativeness of infection control survey results from medical clinics. Stratified random sampling proportionally allocated samples according to the survey population ratio, selecting a final sample of 600 clinics based on regional and clinic characteristics. Infection control experts conducted on-site visits, verified documents, observed procedures, and interviewed staff. A staff survey assessed awareness of infection control to enhance policy acceptance. Of 34,958 medical clinics, 4,501 clinics (12.9%) participated in the online survey. Among these, 87.2% of staff indicated a need for infection control education, and 99.6% agreed on the effectiveness of hand hygiene in preventing healthcare-associated infections. Key educational topics identified were hand hygiene, safe injection practices, and measures for patients with infectious diseases. The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency plans to establish infection control surveys as a national survey system by improving on-site survey participation and ensure data reliability, addressing limitations identified during the operation of the infection control survey for medical clinics.

• QuickStats 2025-01-02

  0 126 32

  Trends in the Bystander Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation, 2013–2023

  Public Health Weekly Report 2025; 18(1): 58-59 https://doi.org/10.56786/PHWR.2025.18.1.5

  

  

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