'Fatal if Bitten'... Japanese Encephalitis Vector Mosquito Detected in Sejong City

Health and Environment Research Institute
to Continue Surveillance Until October

Japanese encephalitis mosquito. Photo by Sejong Health and Environment Research Institute

The Culex tritaeniorhynchus mosquito, which can transmit Japanese encephalitis?a disease that can be fatal if bitten?has been detected in Sejong City for the first time this year.

According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency and the Sejong Health and Environment Research Institute, the Culex tritaeniorhynchus mosquito inhabits rice paddies and puddles, emerges around the end of March, and reaches its peak between August and September.

By collecting mosquitoes twice a week at a livestock farm located in Janggun-myeon and classifying their species, it was confirmed that the Culex tritaeniorhynchus was found for the first time among the mosquitoes collected during the second week of July.

Previously, since April, the Health and Environment Research Institute has been monitoring the distribution of Culex tritaeniorhynchus mosquitoes through a Japanese encephalitis vector mosquito surveillance project.

Japanese encephalitis is transmitted by Culex tritaeniorhynchus mosquitoes infected with the Japanese encephalitis virus. In most cases, the disease causes mild symptoms such as fever and headache, but in rare cases, it can progress to encephalitis, resulting in high fever, seizures, and coma. Of those who develop encephalitis, 20 to 30 percent may die.

Bang Eunok, head of the Infectious Disease Research Division, said, "We plan to conduct thorough mosquito surveillance, focusing on Japanese encephalitis vector mosquitoes, until October," adding, "We will also provide collection information on 11 other mosquito species through the institute's website."