Incheon City Strengthens Surveillance of Imported Dengue Fever and Zika Virus Infections

Southeast Asia Dengue Fever Outbreak (CG) [Yonhap News TV]

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Hyesook] Incheon City is strengthening surveillance to prevent domestic transmission of legally designated infectious diseases imported from abroad, such as dengue fever and Zika virus infection.

On the 17th, the Incheon Institute of Health and Environment announced that it will promote a surveillance project for mosquito-borne infectious diseases imported from overseas in cooperation with the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency.

Dengue fever mainly causes symptoms such as fever, headache, chills, and muscle pain, and is prevalent in Southeast Asia including Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand, as well as in Central and South America including Paraguay, Costa Rica, and Brazil.

Cases imported into Korea continue to occur every year. In particular, since dengue virus genes were detected in Aedes albopictus mosquitoes collected on Yeongjongdo Island, where Incheon International Airport is located, in July last year, continuous surveillance is necessary.

This year, due to the prolonged COVID-19 situation, the number of overseas travelers has decreased, and the number of reported dengue fever cases in Korea also decreased to 41 cases by the 28th week, compared to 94 cases during the same period last year.

Zika virus infection mainly causes symptoms such as rash, joint pain, muscle pain, conjunctivitis, and fever. Although there have been no domestic cases so far, it was reported that 11 people in 2017, 3 people in 2018, and 3 people last year were infected overseas and imported into Korea.

The institute selects six locations around confirmed patients from July to October, when mosquito populations increase, and collects vector mosquitoes twice a week for three weeks based on the symptom onset date, conducting species classification, identification, and pathogen testing.

Since 2009, the distribution and density of vectors living around Incheon International Airport have been investigated, and this year, the collection areas and methods were changed to increase the capture rate of Aedes albopictus mosquitoes, which transmit dengue fever and Zika virus infection.

Kwon Moonju, director of the Incheon Institute of Health and Environment, stated, "Although international movement has decreased recently due to COVID-19, considering the patient occurrence situation in some parts of Southeast Asia and Central and South America, there is a possibility of dengue fever being imported domestically, so we will respond thoroughly."

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