PHWR Public Health Weekly Report

Vol.18 No.42, October 30, 2025 Article TypePolicy NoteQuickStatsReview & Perspective

• Review & Perspective 2025-10-30

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  Experimental Animal Models for Research and Development of Smallpox Vaccines and the Therapeutic Antibodies for Orthopoxvirus-associated Infections

  Sang Eun Lee , Jin-Won Kim , Minji Lee , Hwajung Yi , Yoon-Seok Chung *

  Public Health Weekly Report 2025; 18(42): 1577-1594 https://doi.org/10.56786/PHWR.2025.18.42.1

  Abstract

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  Objectives: Concerns regarding the misuse of the variola virus for bioterrorism and its re-emergence still prevail. The possibility of orthopoxvirus infection and epidemics in humans also exists, including the variola and monkeypox viruses. The latter causes mpox and has posed a global risk since 2022. Accordingly, there is an increasing need for research and development of vaccines and therapeutics for orthopoxviruses, driven by pathological understanding of their infection mechanism, including vaccinia and animal models of orthopoxviral infections. This study introduces methods for establishing animal models of orthopoxvirus-related infections and the pathological characteristics of these models.
  Methods: Establishing animal models of orthopoxvirus infection was based on their pathological characteristics through reviews of related articles and examples of efficacy evaluations of vaccinia immunoglobulins and therapeutic monoclonal antibodies for the treatment of vaccinia virus infection using animal models of orthopoxvirus infections.
  Results: Animal models of orthopoxvirus infection show various pathological aspects depending on the immune status and infection route, having been used in nonclinical trials or animal experiments to evaluate the efficacy of smallpox vaccines and therapeutic candidates. Monoclonal antibodies show potential to replace existing vaccinia immunoglobulins.
  Conclusions: Animal models of orthopoxvirus-associated infection can improve our pathological understanding of orthopoxviral infections and be used to evaluate the efficacy of candidates in the development of vaccines and therapeutics for smallpox and orthopoxvirus-associated infections.

• Policy Note 2025-10-30

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  Comparative Analysis of Infectious Disease Risk Assessment Frameworks between National and International Agencies: The Status of and Future Improvements of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency

  Jeong-Heon Lee , U-Jin Cho , Shin-Young Park , Seong-Sun Kim

  Public Health Weekly Report 2025; 18(42): 1595-1613 https://doi.org/10.56786/PHWR.2025.18.42.2

  

  

  Abstract

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  Objectives: In the context of recurring threats from infectious disease outbreaks, establishing a rapid risk assessment framework based on scientific evidence is a core component of national public health preparedness. In this study, the aim was to compare the infectious disease risk assessment frameworks of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), and the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA), to determine the status of the KDCA, and to suggest future directions for improvement.
  Methods: A literature-based comparative analysis was conducted, focusing on evaluation indicators, implementation procedures, presentation of results, and the level of public disclosure using official manuals and documents published by each agency.
  Results: All three agencies (CDC, ECDC, and KDCA) commonly assess probability and health/social impact as key assessment factors and operate expert-driven rapid risk assessment during the early stages of outbreaks. The KDCA has continuously refined its system through regular updates of manuals and development disease-specific evaluation indicators. However, the CDC and ECDC explicitly incorporate the level of confidence in scientific evidence and visually present risk assessment results to the public.
  Conclusions: Although the KDCA has established a framework aligned with international standards, further advances are required in the quantification of risk assessment, explicit indication of the level of confidence, and improvement in the disclosure of information to the public. These improvements will strengthen evidence-based policy decision-making, enhance public transparency, and ultimately increase public trust.

• Policy Note 2025-10-30

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  Results of Training Local Government Epidemiological Investigation Team in the Chungcheong Region, Republic of Korea, in 2025

  Yeong-Jun Song , Jeong Ran Kwon , Hye-Lim Lee , Jemma Park , Hye Young Lee , Seongwoo Park , Yuna Kim

  Public Health Weekly Report 2025; 18(42): 1614-1628 https://doi.org/10.56786/PHWR.2025.18.42.3

  

  

  Abstract

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  Objectives: We analyzed the results of a questionnaire survey conducted after the 2025 Chungcheong region local government epidemiological investigation team training to explore ways to improve future training.
  Methods: The training evaluation consisted of satisfaction and self-evaluation surveys conducted by a local government epidemiological investigation team in metropolitan cities and provinces, as well as cities, counties, districts, and the Infectious Disease Management Support Team.
  Results: In 2025, 31 of the 36 local governments in the Chungcheong region participated in the training, and 66 participants attended the evaluation. Among these, 51 (77.3%) were from the largest cities, counties, and districts. Their average age was 37.4 years (range: 26–56 years), and their average experience was 19.3 months (range: 0–84 months). The average scores (scale: 0–7) for the two items on prior understanding of on-site response were 4.4 and 4.8 points, respectively. The average scores for the eight items on improving on-site response capabilities after the incident ranged from 5.9 to 6.2 points.
  Conclusions: This is the first training conducted for local government epidemiological investigation teams in the Chungcheong region. It is necessary to explore ways to encourage local government participation and develop training programs for the future.

• QuickStats 2025-10-30

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  Cardio-cerebrovascular Disease Mortality Trends, 2014–2024

  Yeonhee Yoo

  Public Health Weekly Report 2025; 18(42): 1629-1630 https://doi.org/10.56786/PHWR.2025.18.42.4

  

  

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