"Beware of Outdoor Ticks in Spring" ... Goseong-gun Urges Caution for Infectious Disease Prevention

Goseong-gun, Gyeongnam Province, on the 13th, urged special caution to prevent tick-borne infectious diseases as temperatures rise and outdoor activities increase during the spring season.

Tick-borne infectious diseases transmitted through ticks include Severe Fever with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome (SFTS), Tsutsugamushi disease, Lyme disease, and tick-borne encephalitis. These diseases mainly occur from April to October, so caution is needed especially now when outdoor activities such as farming, harvesting forest products, and hiking are on the rise.

In particular, Severe Fever with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome (SFTS) occurs when a person is bitten by a Haemaphysalis longicornis tick carrying the SFTS virus. Currently, there are no effective vaccines or treatments available, so avoiding tick bites is the most important preventive measure.

To prevent tick-borne infectious diseases, it is essential to follow these precautions: ▲ wear bright-colored long-sleeved clothing properly during outdoor activities such as hiking and farming ▲ apply insect repellent every 4 hours ▲ avoid sitting or lying on grassy areas ▲ immediately wash clothes and take a bath upon returning home.

Additionally, if symptoms such as high fever, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or muscle pain occur within two weeks after outdoor activities, it is advised to visit a medical institution immediately and inform them about recent farming or outdoor activities.

Shim Yoon-kyung, the head of the public health center, said, “Due to recent climate changes, the habitat environment for ticks has improved, increasing the risk of infection,” and added, “Please be sure to follow the preventive measures against tick-borne infectious diseases during spring outdoor activities.”