On April 4, 2023, Dr Youngmee Jee, Director of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) and Dr Ju Hyung Hur, President of the Korea Veterinary Medical Association (KVMA), signed a collaboration agreement to prevent and manage not only zoonotic infectious diseases, but also infectious diseases transmitted by vectors (mosquitoes, ticks, etc.), foodborne infectious diseases, climate changes and antibiotic resistance in all aspects related to One Health.
Other aspects covered by the agreement are:
- Establish a monitoring system for sharing information on infectious diseases related to One Health.
- The research cooperation from the perspective of One Health.
- The improvement of the joint response to pending issues and technical support.
- Education and public awareness activities.
Since 2020, the KDCA and the KVMA have cooperated in various fields to protect and improve the health of humans and animals, including cooperation in operating a surveillance system for cases of human-animal transmission of Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS).
Dr Ju Hyung Hur, KVMA President, said, “when the threat of new infectious diseases such as COVID-19 is emerging, this agreement will be a great first step to protect all living beings in Korea, including humans and animals.”
Dr Youngmee Jee, KDC Director of Ji Young-mi, said, “From a one-health perspective, it is important for the public and private sectors to work together to ensure the well-being of people, animals, and the environment. We look forward to working more closely with the Korean Veterinary Association to be prepared for the risk of this required infectious disease.”
