The previously quiet 'mosquito-borne' dengue fever and malaria... Increase after overseas travel restrictions lifted

More than 60 Dengue Fever Cases This Year
Chikungunya and Zika Virus Infections Also on the Rise

[Asia Economy Reporter Byeon Seon-jin] As COVID-19 entry restrictions have eased and overseas travel has increased, the number of mosquito-borne infection patients, which had been quiet for a while, is also rising.

According to the Disease Control and Prevention Agency's infectious disease website on the 12th, domestic patients infected with dengue fever, which mainly occurs in Southeast Asia such as Vietnam, the Philippines, and Thailand, have been increasing this year. As of week 45 (October 30 to November 5), a total of 65 people have been infected. Before COVID-19, there were 100 to 300 dengue fever patients annually, but when the borders were closed due to the 'COVID lockdown,' the numbers sharply decreased to 42 in 2020 and 3 cases in 2021.

Until the first half of this year, there were almost no domestic dengue fever patients, but as entry restrictions were lifted due to the endemic (becoming a local disease) status, from week 24 (June 13 to June 19), 3 to 4 patients have been occurring weekly. Dengue fever develops after a 3 to 14-day incubation period following a bite from a forest mosquito carrying the dengue virus. Symptoms include acute high fever, headache, rash, and muscle pain, and 5% of patients may develop severe dengue infection that can lead to death. There is currently no vaccine or treatment developed to prevent the dengue virus.

There have also been imported cases of chikungunya fever and Zika virus infection, which are also mosquito-borne diseases. Five chikungunya fever patients have been reported this year, compared to one patient in 2020 and none last year. For Zika virus infection, which had no imported cases in 2020 and 2021, two patients have been reported this year. Both of these infections are known to be transmitted by the Aedes aegypti mosquito, which inhabits tropical and subtropical regions. Malaria, caused by Plasmodium parasites transmitted by mosquitoes, has been confirmed in 398 people this year, a 35.4% increase compared to 294 cases last year.

The Disease Control and Prevention Agency urged that when visiting countries at risk for mosquito-borne infections, people should be aware of preventive measures such as preparing mosquito repellents and first aid supplies, avoiding grass and mountainous areas, and if symptoms appear after entry, they should visit a hospital, inform of their travel history, and receive diagnostic tests and treatment.

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