First Japanese Encephalitis Vector Mosquito Found in Incheon... Virus 'Not Detected'

The Incheon Health and Environment Research Institute announced on the 26th that the small red house mosquito, which transmits Japanese encephalitis, was collected for the first time this year in Ganghwa-gun (Geumwol-ri, Seonwon-myeon, Seokmo-ri, Samsan-myeon) and Jung-gu (Oseongsan).

The small red house mosquito was first confirmed in the third week of July (15?21), about two weeks earlier than the first week of August last year. However, an investigation into whether the collected mosquitoes carried pathogens found no Japanese encephalitis virus, confirming that there is no risk of infectious disease transmission.

Earlier, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency issued a nationwide Japanese encephalitis advisory on March 30 following the first confirmation of the small red house mosquito in Wando-gun, Jeollanam-do, and Jeju City, Jeju Special Self-Governing Province. However, a Japanese encephalitis alert has not yet been issued.

Small Red House Mosquito Transmitting Japanese Encephalitis

According to the Infectious Disease website of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, the number of domestic Japanese encephalitis patients was 23 in 2021, 11 in 2022, and 17 in 2023, with about 20 cases occurring annually. In Incheon, one Japanese encephalitis patient was confirmed last year, and no patients have been reported so far this year.

Japanese encephalitis cases tend to be first reported mostly in August and September and continue until November. When infected with the virus, most people experience mild symptoms such as fever and headache, but in rare cases, it can progress to encephalitis, causing symptoms such as high fever, seizures, confusion, convulsions, and paralysis, with 20?30% of these cases resulting in death.

Kwon Moon-ju, director of the Incheon Health and Environment Research Institute, said, "We conduct annual surveys on mosquito occurrence and pathogen carriage in the region to continuously monitor vector-borne infectious diseases such as Japanese encephalitis and malaria," and added, "Avoiding mosquito bites is the most important measure against mosquito-borne infectious diseases, so it is essential to follow prevention guidelines carefully."

The institute operates mosquito density surveys and a real-time mosquito occurrence monitoring system to monitor mosquito density in Incheon, including Japanese encephalitis vector mosquitoes, and conducts surveillance of imported mosquitoes mainly at airports.

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