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

Kim, Joung Soon; Cheong, Hae Kwan

Original Article

Korean Journal of Epidemiology 2006;28(1): 4-21.

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

Joung Soon Kim, Hae Kwan Cheong

¹Seoul National University School of Public Health, Korea.
²Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, SungkyunkwanUniversity School of Medicine, Korea. hkcheong@skku.edu

Abstract

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.

Keywords: Emerging and reemerging infectious disease; Prevention and control; Epidemiology; Epidemiologist; Public policy; Trends