Goseong County Urges Residents: "Do Not Get Bitten by Japanese Encephalitis Mosquitoes"

by Song Jonggu

Published 31 Mar.2026 10:31(KST)

Goseong County, South Gyeongsang Province, has urged residents to receive Japanese encephalitis vaccinations and adhere to mosquito bite prevention guidelines after the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency issued a nationwide alert for Japanese encephalitis in 2026.

Front view of Goseong County Public Health Center.

This Japanese encephalitis alert was issued after the first detection this year of the primary mosquito vector, Culex tritaeniorhynchus, in Jeju Special Self-Governing Province. The alert was issued one week earlier than last year. Officials attribute this earlier appearance of mosquitoes to climate change.

Japanese encephalitis is a mosquito-borne infectious disease primarily occurring in South Asia and the Western Pacific region. The main vector, Culex tritaeniorhynchus, typically inhabits rice paddies and stagnant water, feeds at night, and begins to emerge at the end of March, with populations surging between August and September.

Most people infected with the Japanese encephalitis virus remain asymptomatic or experience only mild symptoms such as fever and headache. However, in rare cases, the disease can progress to encephalitis, which may result in severe complications or death, making vigilance essential.

In response, the Goseong County Public Health Center is conducting thorough mosquito control measures, targeting breeding grounds such as drains and septic tanks to prevent mosquito outbreaks in advance.

Vaccination should also be pursued in parallel. In particular, children under the age of 12 are eligible for the national Japanese encephalitis immunization program, and it is important that they follow the standard vaccination schedule.

To prevent mosquito bites, it is important to: refrain from outdoor activities at night; wear long, light-colored clothing; use mosquito repellent; avoid using strong perfumes or cosmetics; maintain window screens; use mosquito nets; and remove standing water around the home, such as in plant saucers and drainage ditches.

Lee Eulhee, Director of the Public Health Center, stated, "As the activity of mosquitoes carrying Japanese encephalitis becomes more pronounced, residents must exercise particular caution, and especially ensure that children's vaccinations are completed on time."