Yangju-si Conducts Small-Scale Training for Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response

Yangju City, Gyeonggi Province (Mayor Kang Su-hyun) announced on the 29th that the Public Health Center conducted a '2024 Biological Terrorism Response and Preparedness Small-Scale Drill' on the 26th at the city hall's main conference room, attended by related agencies such as fire and police departments and Public Health Center officials.

Employees of Yangju City Public Health Center practiced putting on and taking off personal protective equipment for bioterrorism response with the infectious disease response team staff on the 28th. Provided by Yangju City

Hosted by the Public Health Center, this drill involved the Yangju Police Station and Yangju Fire Station, aiming to strengthen the capabilities of initial response personnel from each agency during a biological terrorism incident.

Biological terrorism refers to the act of dispersing bacteria, viruses, toxins, etc., with the intent to cause casualties or social chaos. Because it can cause mass casualties even in small quantities and has rapid transmission speed and high fatality rates, swift initial on-site response is critically important.

The drill consisted of ▲PPT education and video viewing on the types and categories of biological terrorism infectious diseases and agency-specific response procedures ▲demonstrations of donning and doffing personal protective equipment worn during field dispatch ▲practice using multi-detection kits ▲training on specimen packaging and transportation.

Additionally, pre- and post-surveys measured participants' knowledge improvement, and based on a simulated biological terrorism scenario, the drill provided an opportunity to enhance each agency's response capabilities through the formation and assembly of initial response teams and rapid dispatch to perform missions.

An official from the Public Health Center stated, “Through this joint drill, we will improve the on-site response capabilities of initial responders to biological terrorism and strengthen inter-agency cooperation systems to ensure that even in crisis situations such as biological terrorism incidents, we respond quickly and accurately, prioritizing the safety of citizens.”