To prepare for the possibility of the spread of infectious diseases that transmit from animals to humans, so-called "zoonoses," the government decided to strengthen a pan-ministerial response system focused on bolstering surveillance and identifying high-risk groups in advance.
In particular, for infectious diseases with a high likelihood of mutation, such as avian influenza (AI), it plans to expand "One Health"-based cooperation that spans animals, humans, and the environment to respond preemptively to the emergence of new infectious diseases.
The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency and the Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency held the "first zoonotic disease countermeasures committee meeting of 2026" on the afternoon of the 30th and discussed reviewing the response system and cooperation plans.
The committee, a pan-ministerial consultative body that has been operating since 2004, shares trends in the occurrence of zoonoses and response strategies with participation from related ministries, including the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, the Ministry of National Defense, and the Ministery of Food and Drug Safety, as well as private-sector experts.
At this meeting, avian influenza, which has recently seen human infection cases reported, was addressed as a key agenda item. The government strengthened surveillance of domestic and overseas poultry and wild birds in preparation for the possibility that new types could emerge through viral reassortment and mutation, and it reviewed the response system for human infections, which have not yet occurred in Korea.
They also focused on ways to identify and manage high-risk groups for infection in advance. The aim is to identify groups exposed to high-risk occupations or environments early to enhance response capacity.
Zoonoses are diseases in which viruses or bacteria that arise in animals are transmitted to humans and cause infection. Like COVID-19, they can spread worldwide and develop into a pandemic, making them a public health threat. Recently, as cases have increased in which viruses that arise in poultry or wild animals, such as avian influenza, are transmitted to humans, the need for international surveillance and response has been growing.
In fact, avian influenza has been confirmed in dairy cows in 18 U.S. states since last year, and with reports of infections and deaths among people who had contact with them, global health authorities are on high alert.
As of now, 62 cases of avian influenza have been reported at domestic poultry farms and 63 cases among wild birds. Overseas, infections in poultry and wild birds continue to be confirmed across all regions, including Europe, the Americas, and Asia.
Along with this, the government shared the implementation status of the "second zoonoses management plan (2023–2027)" and the results of pan-ministerial drills, and it reviewed directions for improving infectious disease surveillance programs at the animal stage. It also decided to strengthen cooperation systems, including advancing the joint epidemiological investigation manual and revitalizing symposia for cooperation among research institutions.
Choi Jeong-rok, Deputy Minister of the Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency, said, "A considerable number of zoonoses can lead to new infectious diseases, so surveillance and response at the animal stage are very important," and added, "We will continuously strengthen our response capacity through interagency cooperation."
Im Seung-kwan, commissioner of the disease agency, said, "Because animal outbreaks can lead to a risk of human infection, information sharing among ministries and a swift joint response are important," and noted, "We will strengthen the One Health-based cooperation system to respond to infectious disease crises."