Catch Mosquitoes with a Single Text... Jung-gu Operates 'Mosquito Control Communication Phone'

Operation of 'Summer Mosquito Control Reporting Team' from May to October
Easy reporting via text message upon discovering mosquito breeding sites (excluding mandatory disinfection facilities and private spaces)
High satisfaction with winter larva control project leads to expansion to summer adult mosquito control

Jung-gu, Seoul (District Mayor Kim Gil-seong) is launching a war against mosquitoes until October to protect residents' summer nights. Starting this year, they are operating a ‘Visiting Mosquito Control Communication Phone.’ Convenience has been greatly improved so that residents can apply for pest control disinfection anytime and anywhere simply by sending a text message.

If pest control disinfection is needed in major mosquito habitats such as sewers or rainwater drains, applicants only need to send their name and address via text to the communication phone. However, mandatory disinfection facilities and private spaces are excluded.

In addition to the 111 mosquito-prone areas directly identified by the district, they aim to find hidden mosquito-prone areas known only to residents to promote effective pest control. The ‘Visiting Pest Control Task Force’ will be dispatched directly to areas reported via text. After on-site investigation, customized pest control will be conducted and the results will be communicated.

Furthermore, sewers in densely populated residential areas of Dasan-dong and Sindang-dong, which had the highest average number of pest control complaints over the past five years, will be opened twice a month for proactive pest control. Physical mosquito trapping equipment such as light traps, digital mosquito meters, mosquito traps, and mosquito traps will also be installed in various locations.

The main installation sites are mosquito-prone areas such as parks, hiking trails, and walking paths. Environmentally friendly automatic insect repellent sprayers will also be newly installed and operated. By employing both physical and chemical pest control methods, they plan to significantly reduce the mosquito population.

Due to abnormal climate conditions, early mosquito outbreaks are increasing, making preemptive pest control more important than ever. Mosquitoes, unwelcome guests on summer nights, can transmit various infectious diseases such as malaria and Japanese encephalitis, posing a health risk to residents, so caution is necessary.

Accordingly, the district conducted 2,107 cases of the ‘Visiting Larvae Control Project’ last winter, catching ‘summer mosquitoes in winter’ in advance. Especially through special holiday pest control, they implemented ‘resident-friendly pest control,’ receiving great responses from residents. Now, as the full-scale battle against mosquitoes unfolds in summer, they plan to expand and strengthen pest control with the ‘Summer Adult Mosquito Control Project’ timed to the season.

A district official said, “We will use every possible method to catch mosquitoes so that residents can enjoy peaceful summer nights during the peak mosquito activity season,” adding, “We will do our best to create a mosquito-free, pleasant Jung-gu and protect the health of our residents.”