Damyang-gun Accelerates Promotion for Prevention of Tick-Borne Infectious Diseases

Especially Vulnerable to Infection Over Age 60, Increased Risk with Farming and Outdoor Activities

On the 18th, Damyang-gun, Jeollanam-do announced that it is intensifying efforts to promote the prevention of tick-borne infectious diseases among residents due to the potential occurrence of patients with Tsutsugamushi disease and Severe Fever with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome (SFTS).

Tick-borne infectious diseases include Tsutsugamushi disease (caused by chigger mites), which shows symptoms such as fever, muscle pain, and rash after a tick infected with bacteria or viruses bites exposed skin, and Severe Fever with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome (caused by hard ticks), which presents symptoms such as high fever, nausea, vomiting, and bleeding due to decreased platelets.

In particular, SFTS poses a secondary infection risk to humans through bodily fluids and saliva after pets become infected, and its fatality rate is about 20%, requiring even greater caution.

On the 18th, Damyang-gun conducted promotional activities to prevent tick-borne infectious diseases.
Photo by Damyang-gun

The ticks that cause infectious diseases are different from house dust mites and live in grassy areas such as farmlands, hiking trails, and walking paths, so preventive activities such as cutting grass around homes are necessary.

The number of patients with tick-borne infectious diseases in Damyang-gun has steadily increased over the past three years, with 31 cases reported last year.

This year, four cases have occurred up to May, with the majority of patients being outdoor workers aged 60 and above engaged in agriculture and gardening activities.

To prevent infectious diseases, it is essential to follow preventive measures such as ▲wearing clothing that minimizes exposure before farming and outdoor activities (long sleeves, long pants, socks, gloves, etc.) ▲using tick repellents ▲using mats when sitting on grass ▲washing clothes and showering after returning home.

A county official stated, “We will focus on education and promotional activities for tick-borne infectious disease prevention targeting not only farmers but also children and other residents, and do our best to ensure safe outdoor activities for all residents and reduce the occurrence of patients.”

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