'Japanese Encephalitis Emergency' First Vector Mosquito Found This Year in Gyeongsan City, Gyeongbuk Province

Red house mosquito transmitting Japanese encephalitis

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Dongwook Park] In Gyeongsan City, the small red house mosquito (Culex tritaeniorhynchus), a vector of Japanese encephalitis, was discovered for the first time this year in the Gyeongsangbuk-do region.

According to the Gyeongbuk Provincial Institute of Health and Environment on the 28th, as part of the Japanese encephalitis outbreak prediction project linked with the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, two small red house mosquitoes were identified among mosquitoes collected on the 24th from a farm cattle barn in Gyeongsan City. This is about one month earlier than the first discovery last year.

The small red house mosquito is a small, dark brown mosquito that inhabits animal barns, rice paddies, or puddles, and is known as a major vector of Japanese encephalitis, mainly active in blood-feeding at night.

Japanese encephalitis occurs when a person is infected with the Japanese Encephalitis Virus (JEV) during the blood-feeding process of a small red house mosquito infected with the virus. More than 99% of cases are asymptomatic or show mild symptoms, but once encephalitis symptoms appear, the mortality rate reaches 20-30%. Even after recovery, 30-50% suffer from permanent neurological sequelae.

In Gyeongbuk, one case of Japanese encephalitis was reported in each of 2018 and 2019. To prevent Japanese encephalitis, those eligible for national vaccination support should receive vaccinations according to the standard schedule, and mosquito larva control is necessary during periods of high mosquito activity.

Lee Kyungho, director of the Institute of Health and Environment, urged, "As the period when mosquitoes begin active activity has started, households should use screens or mosquito nets, and during outdoor activities, wear light-colored long pants and long-sleeved clothes to minimize skin exposure," adding, "Thorough disinfection of mosquito larval habitats such as puddles, sewage drains, and septic tanks is necessary."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.