[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Dongguk Lee] For the first time this year in Gyeongbuk, the 'small red house mosquito,' a vector of Japanese encephalitis, has been discovered.
According to the Gyeongbuk Institute of Health and Environment on the 4th, among 254 mosquitoes collected in Gyeongsan City on the 2nd, one was identified as a small red house mosquito. This is about one month later than last year.
The institute has installed mosquito traps in cattle barns in Gyeongsan City to predict the outbreak of Japanese encephalitis and has been collecting mosquitoes twice a week from April to October. The collected mosquitoes are surveyed by species density and used as data for issuing Japanese encephalitis advisories and warnings.
The 'small red house mosquito' is a small, dark brown mosquito that inhabits animal barns, rice paddies, and puddles. It is known as a major vector of Japanese encephalitis, which mainly feeds at night.
Japanese encephalitis occurs when a person is infected with the Japanese Encephalitis Virus (JEV) during the blood-feeding process of a small red house mosquito infected with the virus.
More than 99% of cases are asymptomatic or show mild symptoms, but among patients exhibiting encephalitis symptoms, 30-50% suffer from semi-permanent neurological sequelae. The mortality rate reaches 20-30%. In Gyeongbuk, one Japanese encephalitis patient was reported each in 2018 and 2019.
Baek Hajoo, Director of the Gyeongbuk Institute of Health and Environment, urged, "At home, please use window screens or mosquito nets, wear long-sleeved clothing during outdoor activities, and thoroughly disinfect mosquito larval habitats such as puddles and sewage drains."
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