'Korea lags far behind in research of Zika virus'
By Choi Sung-jin
“Like the MERS turmoil of last year, the Zika virus could emerge as a serious social risk in Korea this year. The problem is that Korea has few researchers of Flavivirus, a group of viruses transmitted by mosquitoes. This country is a blind spot as far as basic virus research is concerned.”
So said Professor Ryu Wang-shik of Yonsei University at a workshop on zoonoses, or communicable diseases between humans and animals, organized by Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology Thursday.
At the public meeting, about 100 participants discussed various pending issues, such as prediction, diagnosis and monitoring of zoonoses, basic research for developing remedies and vaccines, and establishing infrastructure to cope with such diseases.
Experts pointed out the lack of Fravivirus researchers and the urgency in establishing an international network for joint research, while calling for redefining the roles and missions of related agencies.
Ryu said if the Zika virus should flow into Korea, it will cause uncontrollable confusion in the nation. “With Fraviviruses, like the Zika virus, it is difficult to predict how and to what extent the spread of infection might be,” he said. “To enhance the chances of prediction, basic researchers are necessary but there are few experts in the nation.”
In order to develop the diagnostic apparatus, vaccines and treatments, it is necessary to inquire into the biological traits of viruses. That in turn requires scientists to proliferate and cultivate the viruses, and then have the adequate facilities so they can conduct their work. But Korea lacks in both, the biochemist noted.
Prof. Ryu pointed out that most of the Korean scientists who studied viruses abroad are involved in research in other areas upon returning home. “The government should implement a policy to train relevant experts in the long run, as this is directly linked to the people’s safety and lives,” he said.
Other participants took issue with the insufficient research environment. Professor Song Chang-seon of Konkuk University, for instance, called for establishing a network for joint international research.
“Japan is a case in point. If a zoonosis spreads in Vietnam, for example, Japan sends a research team to the Southeast Asian country and conducts joint research with the locals, then brings home its results for more study,” he said. “Unfortunately, Korea cannot do that.”
Citing government statistics, Song also reported that out of 54,289 bioengineering researchers in Korea as of 2010, the number of experts who study communicable diseases between humans and animals stood at only about 2,000, or 3.8 percent of the total.
“Korea also has only 39 BL3 (bio-safety level 3) facilities where researchers are able to experiment with highly infectious pathogens,” Prof. Song said. “The government ought to increase the facilities, approaching the issue not from an economic viewpoint but from the aspect of public good.”
The government invested about 700 billion won ($567 million) between 2010 and 2014 into more than 4,000 research and development projects related to zoonoses. The extremely fragmented use of the government budget, disbursed by three or four different ministries, has led to gross inefficiency, experts point out.
A government official acknowledged the lack of a comprehensive R&D strategy, vowing to secure an additional 90 billion won toward that end.
Private experts agree on the need to redefine the roles and missions of relevant ministries and agencies, but said the new R&D budget runs far short of what’s actually needed.
“The added budget of 90 billion won is not enough to conduct R&D for even one type of virus,” said a private participant. “If the government finds it difficult to drastically increase the budget, it will have to find ways to tap into joint global research.”