The provincial government of Jeju, South Korea, was notified that a 42-year-old man infected with the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) coronavirus had gone sightseeing in Jeju Island. Although the visiting period might be interpreted as the incubation period of MERS, the province decided to conduct active surveillance to prevent a worst-case scenario. Based on the channel of movement of the patient, healthy isolation and active monitoring were conducted for persons who came in contact with the patient. During the active surveillance, none of the 56 persons in self-isolation and 123 persons under active monitoring became infected. This fact supports that MERS is not contagious during the incubation period.
Adult ; Communicable Diseases ; Coronavirus* ; Epidemiology ; Humans ; Korea ; Middle East* ; Public Health Surveillance ; State Government

We used a survey about the need for an educational training of infectious disease response staff in Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) and officer in metropolitan cities and provincial government to conduct field epidemiological investigation. The survey was conducted from January 25 to March 15, 2016. A total of 173 participants were selected from four different groups as follows: 27 clinical specialists, 22 Epidemic Intelligence Service (EIS) officers, 82 KCDC staff, and 42 local health department officials. Results revealed that 83% of KCDC staff and 95% of local health department officials agreed on the need for educational training to strengthen capability of personnel to conduct epidemic research and investigation. The level of their need for training was relatively high, while self-confidence levels of individuals to conduct epidemic research and investigation was low. It was concluded that there was a need to develop training programs to enhance the ability of public health officials, EIS officers, KCDC staff, and local health department personnel to conduct epidemic research and investigation.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S.) ; Communicable Diseases* ; Education* ; Epidemiology* ; Intelligence ; Korea* ; Public Health ; Specialization ; State Government ; Surveys and Questionnaires

We used a survey about the need for an educational training of infectious disease response staff in Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) and officer in metropolitan cities and provincial government to conduct field epidemiological investigation. The survey was conducted from January 25 to March 15, 2016. A total of 173 participants were selected from four different groups as follows: 27 clinical specialists, 22 Epidemic Intelligence Service (EIS) officers, 82 KCDC staff, and 42 local health department officials. Results revealed that 83% of KCDC staff and 95% of local health department officials agreed on the need for educational training to strengthen capability of personnel to conduct epidemic research and investigation. The level of their need for training was relatively high, while self-confidence levels of individuals to conduct epidemic research and investigation was low. It was concluded that there was a need to develop training programs to enhance the ability of public health officials, EIS officers, KCDC staff, and local health department personnel to conduct epidemic research and investigation.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S.) ; Communicable Diseases ; Education ; Epidemiology ; Intelligence ; Korea ; Public Health ; Specialization ; State Government ; Surveys and Questionnaires

The purpose of this study was to compare smoking control strategies between Korea and the United States. Korea and other developing countries may learn from the experience of the United States in dealing with the growing epidemic of cigarettes. In particular, smoking control objectives, structures, laws and regulations, funds, programs and activities, research, and surveillance systems were compared. The comparison was conducted at the federal, states/provincial, and county levels of the two countries. The data were collected through various governmental websites, contact with people directly, and a literature review. Based on the comparison, seven recommendations for smoking control strategies were made primarily for Korea.
Cross-Cultural Comparison ; Federal Government ; Financing, Government/organization & administration ; Government Programs/*organization & administration ; Government Regulation ; Health Education/organization & administration ; Health Policy/legislation & jurisprudence ; Health Priorities/organization & administration ; Health Promotion/*organization & administration ; Humans ; Korea/epidemiology ; Local Government ; Population Surveillance ; *Public Health Practice/economics/legislation & jurisprudence ; Research Support as Topic/organization & administration ; Smoking/epidemiology/*legislation & jurisprudence/*prevention & control ; Smoking Cessation/legislation & jurisprudence/methods ; State Government ; United States/epidemiology