Gyeonggi-do Declares Emergency for 'Japanese Encephalitis' from Late August to Early September

[Asia Economy (Suwon) = Reporter Lee Young-gyu] Gyeonggi Province has reported that cases of 'Japanese encephalitis' in the province have occurred intensively after the end of August over the past three years, urging residents to be cautious and attentive.

According to Gyeonggi Province on the 19th, there were 17 cases of Japanese encephalitis in the province from 2018 to 2020 (58 nationwide), with 6 of the 7 nationwide cases last year concentrated in Gyeonggi Province.

Of the 17 cases in Gyeonggi Province, 16 occurred between August and December, except for one case in January. The first cases were recorded on August 28, 2018, September 1, 2019, and September 7, 2020, all from late August to early September.

Japanese encephalitis is a legally designated Class 3 zoonotic infectious disease.

Most people bitten by the primary vector mosquito of Japanese encephalitis, the small red house mosquito, are asymptomatic, but after an incubation period of 5 to 15 days, mild symptoms such as high fever, headache, dizziness, vomiting, and abdominal pain may occur, and in severe cases, encephalitis develops.

Among patients showing severe symptoms, 30% of those with encephalitis die, and 30-50% of survivors suffer neurological complications.

Among the 17 cases in Gyeonggi Province over the past three years, 7 died. Of the 10 survivors, 8 (47%) suffer from severe complications requiring intensive care, and only 2 infected individuals have returned to daily life.

Although no cases of Japanese encephalitis have occurred nationwide, including Gyeonggi Province, this year, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency issued a 'Japanese Encephalitis Alert' nationwide on August 5, as the small red house mosquito accounted for 85.7% of all collected mosquitoes in the Busan area.

There is an effective preventive vaccine for Japanese encephalitis, and it is recommended to complete vaccination according to the standard immunization schedule. Vaccination is mainly recommended for people living in high-risk areas where the vector mosquito frequently appears, such as near rice paddies or pig farms, and adults who engage in frequent outdoor activities during summer and have no prior history of Japanese encephalitis vaccination.

Park Geon-hee, head of the Infectious Disease Control Support Group of Gyeonggi Province, said, "Even if the absolute number of confirmed cases of Japanese encephalitis is small, it is a disease with high mortality and severe complications, so mosquito avoidance and preventive measures must be followed." He added, "People who recently enjoy 'chabak' (car camping) or camping, and those living or working in areas with a high risk of mosquito presence should be cautious."

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