Citation

Cho JP, Min YG, Choi SC. J. Prev. Med. Pub. Health 2008; 41(4): 219-224.

Affiliation

Department of Emergency Medicine, Ajou University School of Medicine. jpcho@ajou.ac.kr

Copyright

(Copyright © 2008, Korean Society for Preventive Medicine)

DOI

10.3961/jpmph.2008.41.4.219

PMID

18664727

Abstract

Due to heightened concerns regarding possible bioterrorist attacks, the Korea Center for Disease Control and Prevention introduced syndromic surveillance systems, which have been run by emergency departments in hospitals throughout Korea since 2002. These systems are designed to identify illness clusters before diagnoses are confirmed and reported to public health agencies, to mobilize a rapid response, and thereby to reduce morbidity and mortality. The Korea Center for Disease Control and Prevention performed drop-in syndromic surveillance successfully during the World Cup Football [soccer] Games in 2002, the Universiad games in 2004, and the Asian Pacific Economic Cooperation meeting in 2005. In addition, sustainable syndromic surveillance system involving the collaborative efforts of 125 sentinel hospitals has been in operation nationwide since 2002. Because active data collection can bias decisions a physician makes, there is a need to generate an automatic and passive data collection system. Therefore, the Korea Center for Disease Control and Prevention plans to establish computerized automatic data collection systems in the near future. These systems will be used not only for the early detection of bioterrorism but also for more effective public health responses to disease.

Language: ko