La reemergencia del dengue: un gran desafío para el sistema sanitario latinoamericano y caribeño en pleno siglo XXI / Reemergence of dengue: a great challenge for the health Latin American and Caribbean system, in the middle of XXI century

Se efectuó una revisión actualizada sobre el dengue, fundamentalmente centrada en los países de la Región, teniendo en cuenta de que se trata de una enfermedad infecciosa reemergente, que continúa representando un problema de salud pública a escala universal, cada vez más común y disperso en áreas tropicales y subtropicales, debido a sus condiciones demográficas y climatológicas

An up-dated review on dengue was carried out, fundamentally centered in the Region countries, keeping in mind that it is a reemerging infectious disease, which still represents a public health problem of universal scale, more and more common and disseminated in tropical and subtropical areas, due to its demographic and climatological conditions

Epidemiologic Transition of Communicable Diseases in Korea: Academia's Contributions to the National Communicable Disease Prevention and Control Programs / 한국역학회지

This paper describes the transition of communicable diseases in Korea since 1970s. Some of Korean's general living background and health indicators are introduced, followed by trends in the changes during the last several decades in socioeconomic, demographic, and living environmental status, which are closely associated with the transition of communicable diseases. The current incidence of classified, notifiable disease, the incidence by year, and the transition of communicable diseases are presented. Governmental responses to prevent and control communicable diseases, including both emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases, which have become recognized as having public health importance are described. Finally, the role played by academia during the last several decades in the successful control of communicable diseases is analyzed.

Implementation of Effective Policies on Emerging and Reemerging Infectious Diseases / 한국역학회지

The history of emerging infectious diseases was recently reawakened with the SARS outbreak in 2003 that resulted in 8,098 cases and 774 deaths in 26 countries. Korea dealt with 20 suspect or probable cases. From this experience of managing SARS, the public health system has been reinforced and the system's flexibility improved. The Korea Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention (KCDC) was inaugurated in January 2004 as a technically advanced and leading national organization. Thanks to SARS, multiple related Ministries and Agencies realized the need for their involvement in the case of global and national public health threat. The joint WHO/OIE/FAO consultation that was held in May 2004 in Geneva agreed that the next candidateemerging infectious disease that would affect global public health as seriously as SARS would almost certainly originate from animal infection (zoonosis) and that the most probable disease would be avian influenza. Thanks to the pandemic influenza issue, global cooperation and national preparedness for avian and pandemic influenza has been enhanced and this will provide a template for global cooperation to address all types of public health emergencies. The main strategies to develop the preparedness against the public health threat of emerging infectious diseases are firstly maintaining basic public health scheme with capacity building, and secondly establishing disease-specific supplement. As to pandemic influenza, the government is building core capacities in its organizational and functional operation, including stockpiling of antiviral (oseltamivir) and personal protective equipment. In the plan of action on public health emergency, the additional issues to be dealt with include the development of public risk communication scenarios, measures to increase social distance, disinfection measures, especially hand washing, table top exercises, and manpower mobilization. International and regional contribution and collaboration have now become prerequisites for every country. We work to ensure transparency in reporting, immediate sharing of epidemiological data and samples, capacity building and collaboration with in-country and international partners.

International Cooperation in the Control and Prevention of Emerging and Reemerging Infectious Diseases / 한국역학회지

This paper discusses the recent increase in the incidence of emerging and reemerging infectious diseases and the role of international cooperation in coping with such public health threats. The historical background and its evolution are reviewed and the need, advantages, and possible areas of international cooperation are presented. A current example and model of international cooperation at various levels is described. Finally, two of the main issues in the process of international cooperation are discussed: the ethical aspect of scientific communication and national interest, and intellectual property issues.