News & Events
News & Events
[Economy Today] From Ebola to MERS, the world at war with infectious diseases
2015-06-08
▶From left, Dr. Ji-Young Min, a Head of Respiratory Viruses Research Laboratory at IPK and Dr. Gerald Parker, a vice-president of Health Science Center of A&M University
Economy Today met with Dr. Gerald Parker, a former assistant secretary of Ministry of National Defense, US and the current vice-president of Health Science Center of A&M University, Texas. We discussed the spread of MERS in Korea and how the Korean government should cope with the disease.
◆MERS is new infectious disease emerging in Korea...“Fear must be accompanied with rational understanding."
Korea is trembling with fear because of MERS. And it was amplified when the government failed to prevent the carrier from traveling to China. Dr. Gerald Parker said, "Fear is a natural and expected reaction after the onset of an infectious disease outbreak. However fear must be accompanied with rational understanding." He added, "Korea's response to the infectious disease outbreak is in keeping with the standard response when dealing with a new infectious disease.“ However he advised, “Because infectious diseases are a global issue, not just a problem a single county faces, close exchange between countries is required.”
◆MERS, a new virus without treatment…."Real-time communication with experts are needed“
◆MERS, a new virus without treatment…."Real-time communication with experts are needed“
An emerging infectious disease is an infectious disease that has newly appeared therefore health authorities may face difficulties in reacting to the infectious disease and make mistakes. Therefore, “Korea’s health authorities should form a committee of experts and communicate in real-time." He added, “when Ebola spread to Texas, a taskforce of medical experts, biologists, government and non-government officials were assembled. Experts communicated with each other in real-time in order to develop counterplans to address the outbreak as it was happening.”
Additionally, “it is important for the Korean government to be transparent in their communication with the public about the situation,” and added, “adequate training for medical teams who are working closest to the disease is required as they are most at risk.”
Source: Economy Today (2 June, 2015)