Wonju City Public Health Center: "Beware of Ticks During Outdoor Activities in Autumn"

Tick-borne Infectious Diseases Peak from September to November
Minimize Skin Exposure During Outdoor Activities
Follow Preventive Measures Such as Using Tick Repellents

The Wonju City Public Health Center in Gangwon Province has urged the public to exercise particular caution as concerns grow over the potential spread of tick-borne infectious diseases during the Chuseok holiday and autumn season, when outdoor activities such as grass trimming, visiting ancestral graves, and hiking increase.

Guidelines for Preventing Tick-Borne Infectious Diseases. Provided by Wonju City

Tick-borne infectious diseases occur when bitten by ticks infected with viruses or bacteria. In Korea, these include Severe Fever with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome (SFTS) and Tsutsugamushi disease. Notably, 76.2% of all cases are concentrated in the autumn season.

In particular, SFTS continues to be reported, with 28 cases in Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province in 2023 (198 cases nationwide), 32 cases in 2024 (170 cases nationwide), and 7 cases so far in 2025 (88 cases nationwide). Since there is no preventive vaccine or treatment and the fatality rate reaches 18.5%, special caution is required.

Because ticks are widely distributed not only in grassy areas but also in all environments where wild animals live, it is extremely important to strictly follow preventive measures during outdoor activities such as grass trimming, hiking, and crop harvesting.

Specific preventive guidelines include: wearing long-sleeved shirts, long pants, hats, gloves, neck scarves, and work aprons to minimize skin exposure during outdoor activities; using repellents; avoiding sitting or lying directly on grass (use a mat instead); washing clothes and showering immediately after returning home; and checking for tick bites.

If bitten by a tick, it is safest to visit a medical institution for removal. If this is not possible, the tick should be removed with tweezers, making sure to grasp the head, and the area should be disinfected afterward.

Lim Youngok, Director of the Public Health Center, emphasized, "It is especially important to follow preventive guidelines during the autumn season, when tick activity is at its peak," adding, "If you experience symptoms such as fever, vomiting, diarrhea, or abdominal pain within two weeks after outdoor activities, you should immediately inform your healthcare provider about your recent outdoor activities and seek medical attention."