Ewha Womans UniversityInstitute for Development and Human Security

COVID-19

COVID-19 is a respiratory syndrome caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which first emerged in Wuhan, China, in December 2019. Coronaviruses are known to be one of the three major viruses that cause the common cold. They were first discovered in chickens in the 1930s and have since been identified in dogs, pigs, birds, and, in the 1960s, humans, indicating that they can infect both animals and people. As human activity has become more widespread, viruses that previously only circulated among animals have mutated and crossed over to humans. This includes well-known viruses such as SARS (2002) and MERS (2012), and COVID-19 is also one of these. The primary mode of transmission is through droplets released when an infected person coughs or sneezes, which can enter the respiratory system or mucous membranes of the eyes, nose, or mouth of an uninfected person. After an incubation period of 1 to 14 days (average 4 to 7 days), symptoms such as fever over 37.5°C, cough, and sore throat typically appear, though asymptomatic cases are also frequently reported.

The World Health Organization (WHO) declared a "Public Health Emergency of International Concern" on January 30, 2020. However, as COVID-19 rapidly spread globally and cases surged, the WHO declared a "Global Pandemic" on March 11. This declaration marks the third pandemic, following the Hong Kong flu in 1968 and the H1N1 pandemic in 2009. As of March 16, 2025, more than five years after the first outbreak at the end of 2019, nearly 778 million confirmed cases have been reported across 240 countries and territories worldwide, with more than 7 million deaths. The global fatality rate announced by WHO is 3.4%, but this varies significantly by country and age group. Most notably, developing countries are experiencing considerable impacts due to the public health crisis.

According to the World Health Organization, the global shortage of healthcare workers will be 11 million by 2030, affecting mostly developing countries. The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) found that while cases of COVID-19 in children are less likely to result in death, indirect effects of COVID-19 like healthcare disruption and economic strain may affect mortality. The Global Network Against Food Crises reported that global food insecurity levels spiked in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, inducing a food crisis affecting as much as 40% of the population in some countries and continuing to affect food insecurity primarily in Africa and Central America. The World Bank reports that nearly 700 million people lived in extreme poverty (living on less than $2.15 per day) in 2024, with 75% of those affected living in Sub-Saharan Africa or conflicted-affected countries and low-income countries generally still at higher poverty rates than before COVID-19. Efforts are being made to address the various crises in developing countries triggered by COVID-19 through a perspective of international solidarity and cooperation.

HIV/AIDS

HIV/AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) is a condition caused by the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). With the development of effective treatments that can strongly suppress the virus, individuals who are infected with HIV can lead healthy lives if they receive proper treatment and adhere to their medication. Since 2004, HIV-related deaths worldwide have decreased by 51% as of 2017. However, there are still many challenges to address. As of 2017, approximately 37 million people globally are affected, and in countries with weak infrastructure or health policies, the reduction in mortality rates has not shown significant progress. Infection and death rates also vary based on social class and gender. In particular, in sub-Saharan Africa, adolescent girls and young women experience infection rates that are twice as high as those of their male peers. This disparity highlights the ongoing human rights abuses faced by many women in patriarchal developing countries, where violence, stigma, and discrimination contribute to reduced access to healthcare.

By 2020, the international community aimed to 1) Reduce the number of new HIV infections to 500,000, 2) Eliminate new infections in infants,  3) Reduce HIV-related deaths to below 500,000, and 4) Ensure that 90% of people living with HIV can suppress the virus through testing and treatment. The ultimate goal is to achieve the complete eradication of HIV/AIDS by 2030.

Malaria

Malaria is an infectious disease transmitted by mosquitoes. While the number of cases is relatively low and fatalities are extremely rare, South Korea is one of the 87 countries designated as malaria risk areas by the WHO as of 2019. As of 2018, approximately 200 million people globally were newly infected with malaria, and around 430,000 people died from the disease, with 61% of the deaths occurring in children under the age of 5. In Africa, many people still lack easy access to malaria prevention and treatment technologies. 90% of malaria infections and 92% of malaria-related deaths occur in Africa. However, a notable achievement is that the WHO has officially announced that malaria has been eradicated in eight countries in recent years, including the United Arab Emirates in 2007, Morocco in 2010, and Turkmenistan, Armenia, the Maldives, Sri Lanka, Kyrgyzstan, and Paraguay.

The international community, led by the World Health Organization (WHO), is working towards specific goals to be achieved by 2030: reducing malaria infection rates and mortality by 90%, eliminating malaria in 35 countries, and eliminating new outbreaks of malaria.

Tuberculosis

Tuberculosis (TB) is one of the top ten causes of death worldwide. In 2017, approximately 10 million people were reported to have tuberculosis, and 1.6 million people died from the disease, with 95% of these deaths occurring in low- and middle-income countries. Sixty percent of TB infections occur in six high-risk countries: India, Indonesia, China, Nigeria, Pakistan, and South Africa, while 61% of cases are in Asia and 26% in Africa. Tuberculosis is also a major cause of death among people with HIV.

Thanks to international efforts, deaths from tuberculosis (TB) have been steadily declining. Globally, the incidence of TB is decreasing by 2% each year. From 2000 to 2017, 54 million people received treatment, and the mortality rate has decreased by 47% and the infection rate by 42% compared to 1990. Deaths among people with HIV have also decreased by more than one-third. The third goal of the UN Sustainable Development Goals, "Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages," includes a target to reduce TB-related deaths by 90% and infections by 80% by 2030. To achieve this, the international community is employing various strategies and efforts.

Hepatitis and Others

In 2015 alone, viral hepatitis caused 134 million deaths, a number higher than deaths caused by HIV. While deaths from tuberculosis and HIV are continuously decreasing, deaths from viral hepatitis have been steadily increasing. Viral hepatitis occurs regardless of income level, but the number of patients is significantly higher in low- and middle-income countries. Specifically, the prevalence of hepatitis B is 7.4 times higher and the incidence rate is 9.2 times higher in developing countries compared to developed countries. Treatment and diagnosis rates are also much lower in developing countries.

Hepatitis has not been prioritized until recently, resulting in relatively less research, investment, and treatment efforts than other diseases. However, hepatitis is now gaining attention as a significant international health issue. The third goal of the UN Sustainable Development Goals, "Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages," includes a specific target (3.3) to work towards the elimination of hepatitis by 2030. Achieving this goal requires efforts such as increasing vaccination coverage, preventing mother-to-child transmission of hepatitis B, ensuring the use of hygienic tools to prevent infections in medical settings, providing sterile equipment for individuals who use injectable drugs, and ensuring access to appropriate treatments. Additionally, it is essential to develop and implement effective and context-specific strategies tailored to particular populations and regions. 

In addition to hepatitis, neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) are another focus of the international community. NTDs include leishmaniasis, Chagas disease, African trypanosomiasis, schistosomiasis, and filariasis. These diseases are commonly found in regions such as Africa, Latin America, and Southeast Asia. They are often neglected by the global community due to social stigma, prejudice, underestimation, and the extreme poverty and low mortality rates experienced by affected populations, leading to the label "neglected diseases." This issue is particularly severe in countries and regions where people live on less than US$2 a day. Recent progress in the treatment of NTDs is attributed to improved access to care for patients. To eradicate NTDs, the international community needs to develop new solutions while maintaining a strong focus on the regions where NTDs are prevalent and increasing vaccination coverage.