PHWR Public Health Weekly Report

Vol.17 No.27, July 11, 2024 Article TypeQuickStatsReview & Perspective

• Review & Perspective 2024-07-11

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  Introduction of Epidemiological Parameters and the First Few X Cases and Contacts Investigation for Infectious Diseases with Pandemic Potential

  Hee Kyoung Kim, Sang-Eun Lee, Young-Man Kim, Mi Yu, Jin Lee, Jin-Hwan Jeon, Donghyok Kwon

  Public Health Weekly Report 2024; 17(27): 1173-1185 https://doi.org/10.56786/PHWR.2024.17.27.1

  

  

  Abstract

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  It is crucial to ascertain the epidemiological characteristics of emerging infectious diseases with pandemic potential through the investigation of the First Few X (FFX) cases and contacts, coupled with the estimation of epidemiological parameters. The primary objective of FFX investigations is to gather epidemiological, clinical, and virological data from a limited initial pool of laboratory-confirmed cases and contacts, aiming to delineate the actual transmission dynamics of a novel pathogen. These identified characteristics from FFX investigations can yield epidemiological parameters indicative of the transmissibility and severity of infectious diseases. Moreover, they can inform the development of targeted strategies for disease prevention.

• Review & Perspective 2024-07-11

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  Distribution Status of National Culture Collection for Pathogens Pathogen Resources following Coronavirus Disease 2019 Occurrence from 2020 to 2023

  Su Yeon Kim, HyeongWon Bang, Hyerin Kim, Byeong-Hak Kang

  Public Health Weekly Report 2024; 17(27): 1186-1212 https://doi.org/10.56786/PHWR.2024.17.27.2

  Abstract

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  Since the enforcement of the “Act on the Collection, Management, and Promotion of Utilization of Biological Resources” in 2017 and the establishment of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) in September 2020, the KDCA has assumed supervisory authority over this law. The National Culture Collection for Pathogens (NCCP) serves as the depository responsible for pathogen resources. It secures and manages valuable pathogen resources on an annual basis, and distributes them for various purposes in the healthcare research and industry field. From 2020 to 2023, the NCCP has distributed a total of 15,312 samples: 3,047 in 2020; 3,988 in 2021; 4,925 in 2022; and 3,352 in 2023. Distribution was notably higher in March and April compared to other months. Private for-profit organizations requested significantly more responses (9,011) than national public research institutes (2,676) or university/nonprofit organizations (3,625). Samples for vaccine/therapeutics (2,509) and diagnostic technology research (10,591) were more prevalent than those for education (1,074) and quality control (674). The coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, which began in 2020 and has persisted for an extended period, led to a sustained increase in the distribution of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) (31.3%) to support various healthcare industries and research fields until the end of 2023. Among the distributed derivatives, nucleic acid forms used for diagnostic purposes accounted for 57.5%. This study provides information on the distribution status of pathogen resources from 2020 to 2023. It demonstrates that domestic resources are widely utilized in the public health field as source materials to respond to emerging infectious diseases and as standard strains for food and pharmaceuticals.

• QuickStats 2024-07-11

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  Trends in the Prevalence of Current Drinking among Korean Adolescents, 2014–2023

  Public Health Weekly Report 2024; 17(27): 1213-1214 https://doi.org/10.56786/PHWR.2024.17.27.3

  

  

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