Busan Health and Environment Research Institute Expands 'Mosquito Habitat Survey' Initiative

Expansion of Survey Areas... Investigation of Species Classification and Density at 7 Locations

Reminder to Follow Outdoor Activity Precautions and Ensure Children's Vaccinations

The Busan Metropolitan City Health and Environment Research Institute will conduct a "Mosquito Habitat Survey in the Busan Area" from March through November.

The institute, in collaboration with the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, is conducting the mosquito habitat survey as part of the Japanese encephalitis outbreak prediction survey and the surveillance system project for mosquito-borne infectious diseases imported from overseas, aiming to proactively respond to mosquito-borne infectious diseases such as Zika virus infection, Japanese encephalitis, dengue fever, and West Nile fever.

In particular, this year, the survey areas for overseas-imported mosquitoes have been expanded from the existing Baekyangsan, Children's Grand Park, livestock farms in Gijang-gun, and Eulsukdo migratory bird habitat to include areas around airports and ports, totaling seven locations. Mosquitoes will be collected 1 to 2 times weekly to investigate species classification and population density.

Additionally, to prevent mosquito-borne infectious diseases, genetic testing for six viruses (Zika virus, Japanese encephalitis virus, dengue virus, West Nile virus, yellow fever virus, chikungunya virus) will be conducted targeting mosquito species that transmit infectious diseases, including Culex tritaeniorhynchus (small red house mosquito), Aedes albopictus (Asian tiger mosquito), and Culex pipiens (common house mosquito).

A representative from the Health and Environment Research Institute stated, "With the increasing possibility of tropical mosquito-borne infectious diseases due to global warming, we ask citizens to follow infection prevention guidelines outdoors and at home during mosquito active periods," and added, "We urge children aged 12 months to under 12 years, who are eligible for national vaccination support, to receive vaccinations."

On April 7 last year, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency issued a Japanese encephalitis advisory nationwide after the small red house mosquito, a vector of Japanese encephalitis, was first discovered in the Busan area. On July 23, the small red house mosquito accounted for 90.4% of all collected mosquitoes, exceeding the alert issuance criteria, leading to a nationwide Japanese encephalitis warning.

The small red house mosquito, a vector of Japanese encephalitis.

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