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News Release

HHS, REPUBLIC OF KOREA EXPAND COOPERATION
ON INFECTIOUS DISEASES RESEARCH

HHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Korean Minister of Health and Welfare Hwa-Joong Kim to promote enhanced United States-Korea cooperation in vaccine-preventable and infectious disease research.

The MOU, signed during Minister Kim's visit to Washington, D.C., calls for an expansion of collaboration across a broad range of mutual interests, including laboratory science and research, tuberculosis, vaccine-preventable and other infectious diseases, epidemic investigation and surveillance, bioterrorism, gender and global health, chronic diseases, environmental and occupational health and public health law.

"Today, we strengthen the ties of our friendship with this Memorandum of Understanding," Secretary Thompson said. "As we jointly tackle enhanced infectious disease research, we'll be doing more than just strengthening our own ties -- we'll be creating a healthier global community."

In the MOU, specific actions include development of a joint working group to discuss public health emergency preparedness and bioterrorism, exchanges of scientists and trainees, and other coordinated scientific research programs.

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Last Revised: July 23, 2003