Gwangju Seo-gu Conducts Infection Disease Prevention and Control for Japanese Encephalitis and Malaria

Published 28 Aug.2023 14:17(KST)

Seo-gu, Gwangju Metropolitan City (Mayor Kim Ikang) is taking the lead in creating a pleasant environment to prevent infectious diseases.

Seo-gu announced on the 28th that, as the risk of infectious diseases such as Japanese encephalitis, malaria, severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS), and tsutsugamushi disease has increased due to the recent continuous hot and humid weather, it will conduct intensive quarantine on 1,776 vulnerable areas.

As the risk of infectious diseases such as Japanese encephalitis and malaria increases in Seogu, intensive quarantine measures are being implemented in 1,776 vulnerable areas.
[Photo by Seogu]

Seo-gu operates 20 quarantine mobile teams consisting of 41 members: 2 teams from the public health center and 1 team from each of the 18 neighborhoods. They are conducting larval control and combined fogging and spraying disinfection focusing on vulnerable areas where sanitary pests appear, such as residential alleys, sewers, urban parks, and riverside walking trails.

In particular, Seo-gu is conducting intensive weekly disinfection along the Geumdangsan walking trail, Pungam Lake Park, and the 5·18 Memorial Park walking trail in connection with the village BIs ‘Healing Rest, Health Village’ in Pungam-dong and ‘Walking In Village’ in Sangmu 1-dong.

Additionally, insect-attracting insect traps (light traps) and automatic insect repellent sprayers have been installed and operated at the entrances of riverside walking trails and urban parks where many residents pass by.

Since the 24th, Seo-gu has been visiting 92 senior centers vulnerable to infectious diseases to carry out pest control around the centers and spraying cockroach repellents indoors.

Residents of Seo-gu have expressed their gratitude through ‘Baro Munja Harangkke,’ a direct communication channel with the mayor, saying things like, “Hearing the sound of disinfection every day makes me feel that the district office is working hard for the residents,” and “Seeing the officials taking care of disinfection despite the hot weather makes me proud as a resident.”

Kim Ikang, Mayor of Seo-gu, said, “With the end of summer vacation approaching and the season for preparing for Chuseok by clearing grass coming near, the risk of infectious diseases caused by mosquitoes and ticks is increasing.”

He added, “I ask everyone to wear long-sleeved clothes or use repellents during outdoor activities, and since preventing insect bites is important, we will do our best in disinfection activities.”