Strengthening field epidemiological investigation response capabilities

Composition of the Epidemiological Investigation Team

The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) has established and operated the Central Epidemiological Investigation Team pursuant to Article 18 of the
Total of 180 members (as of February 2025)

Commissioner of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA)

Central Epidemiological Investigation Team
(Team Leader: Disease Data Science Analyst)

Diagnosis Analysis Team
Epidemiological Investigation Support Team
- Disease Control Capability Development Officer
- Disease Surveillance Strategy Officer
- Disease Control Research Planning Officer
- Epidemiological Data Analysis Officer

Infectious Disease Response Team
(Team Leader: Response Situation Department Head)
- Waterborne, foodborne, and respiratory infectious diseases, etc.
- 10 types of infectious diseases subject to vaccination
- Zoonotic vectors and other infectious diseases
- Tuberculosis
- Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome and sexually transmitted infections
New and Biological Terrorism Response Team
(Team Leader: Response Situation Department Head)
- New infectious diseases
- 5 types of bioterrorism infectious diseases
- Unknown cause diseases
Medical Safety and Adverse Reaction Response Team
(Team Leader: Response Situation Department Head)
- Adverse reaction after vaccination
- Healthcare-associated infections
Regional Response Teams (5)
(Team Leader: Regional Infectious Disease Response Director)
- Metropolitan Area (Infectious Disease Response Division)
- Chungcheong Region (Infectious Disease Response Division)
- Honam Region (Infectious Disease Response Division)
- Gyeongbuk Region (Infectious Disease Response Division)
- Gyeongnam Region (Infectious Disease Response Division)

According to Article 15 of the Enforcement Decree of the Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Act, the central government, provinces, and cities/counties/districts shall establish and operate epidemiological investigation teams.
A total of 17 teams in provinces, comprising 339 members, and 221 teams in cities/counties/districts with 3,286 members (as of April 2025)

Establishment, implementation, and evaluation of epidemiological investigation plans
Development of standards and methods for conducting epidemiological investigations
Education and training for provincial epidemiological investigation teams and city/county/district epidemiological investigation teams
Epidemiological research on infectious diseases
Collection, analysis, and provision of cases of infectious disease outbreaks and incidences of adverse reactions following vaccination
Technical guidance and evaluation for provincial and city epidemiological investigation teams * The duties of provincial and city epidemiological investigation teams and city/county/district epidemiological investigation teams are also stipulated in the same enforcement decree.

Conducting regular scenario-based drills twice a year to enable the team to carry out prompt and accurate field epidemiological investigations by collecting data and analyzing information during infectious disease outbreaks

Strengthening infectious disease response capabilities at the frontline by regularizing scenario-based* drills for provincial and city/county/district epidemiological investigation teams using standard scenarios developed by the Disease Control and Prevention Agency, coordinated by regional disease response centers * The scenarios are registered for intellectual property rights by the Disease Control and Prevention Agency (Director of Disease Control Capacity Development) and are shared for educational purposes.

Based on the experience of the COVID-19 pandemic, the importance of joint responses and measures to prevent the spread of infection among relevant ministries has emerged for swift epidemiological investigations during domestic infectious disease outbreaks.
Maximizing field epidemiological investigation and response capabilities to preventive measures through scenario-based drills on infectious disease outbreak situations in collaboration with relevant ministries overseeing collective living facilities, such as the Ministry of Education (schools) and the Ministry of National Defense (military barracks)