[Airport and Port Wastewater-based Infectious Disease Surveillance]

As the global coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic unfolded, many countries, including the United States and those in Europe, introduced wastewater-based infectious disease surveillance systems to monitor infectious disease outbreak trends and proactively respond to emerging threats. These systems have become integral components of national infectious disease surveillance policies. In 2023, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) established the foundation for a pilot project of the Airport-Port Wastewater-based Infectious Disease Surveillance. In 2024, this initiative was launched, targeting airports, ports, and transportation vehicles (aircraft and ships) within the quarantine areas of 13 nationwide quarantine stations. In the future, the KDCA aims to collaborate with international wastewater surveillance consortia, domestic agencies, and related ministries to expand the scope of airport and port wastewater monitoring systems. Additionally, efforts will focus on enhancing laboratory techniques to develop a robust surveillance system capable of addressing national infectious disease crises.