National Drill Tests Pandemic response Capabilities with Real-World Diagnostic Scenarios
South Korea’s Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KDCA) conducted a nationwide practical cooperation training exercise this month to evaluate and enhance the nation’s ability to respond to a novel infectious disease outbreak. The drill simulated the emergence of an initial patient case and subsequent community spread, focusing on diagnostic testing and reporting procedures.
Thirty-three institutions participated in the exercise, including the KDCA (including its Jeju branch), the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS), City and Provincial Health and Surroundings Research Institutes (including support facilities), and four leading infectious disease hospitals: Catholic University Seoul St. Mary’s Hospital, Korea University anam hospital, Seoul National University Hospital, and Severance Hospital.A diagnostic reagent emergency production agency was also involved.The training centered around the rapid deployment and utilization of diagnostic reagents granted emergency use authorization by the MFDS following joint evaluation by public and government experts.Participating inspection agencies received the reagents and performed actual diagnostic tests, promptly reporting results to assess on-site response effectiveness and procedural efficiency.
A comprehensive review of the training results will occur on October 22,with participating institutions collaborating to identify areas for betterment in the overall national response system.
This exercise builds upon previous KDCA training conducted in 2019 for the novel coronavirus and in 2024 for the Nipah virus. Officials emphasized the importance of this drill as a practical exercise utilizing actual reagents and testing protocols.
“Infectious disease diagnostic tests are the most significant early measures in a crisis,and the accuracy and speed of diagnosis is the core of the overall crisis response strategy,” stated Lim Seung-kwan,head of the KDCA.
Findings from the training will inform future system improvements and strengthen public-private cooperation in pandemic preparedness.