Changwon Special City, "Be Cautious of Tick-borne Diseases in Autumn"

Be Sure to Follow Infectious Disease Prevention Guidelines During Outdoor Activities

Changwon City, Gyeongnam Special City, has urged citizens to take extra precautions against tick-borne infectious diseases as the season for autumn farming, ancestral grave visits, and outdoor activities approaches.

Lee Jiryeon, director of Masan Health Center, is giving a briefing related to ticks on the 2nd.

Tick-borne infectious diseases occur when a person is bitten by a tick infected with bacteria or viruses. The most common examples are Tsutsugamushi disease and Severe Fever with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome (SFTS). These diseases occur most frequently from September to November in the fall, and the risk of infection increases during farming activities such as gardening or during outdoor activities like hiking, grave visits, and camping.

Tsutsugamushi disease is transmitted when a person is bitten by the larva of a chigger mite infected with the Orientia tsutsugamushi bacterium, so it is important to avoid tick bites during outdoor activities. There is currently no preventive vaccine, and treatment involves antibiotics and symptomatic care. Human-to-human transmission does not occur, so patient isolation and contact management are not necessary.

In particular, Severe Fever with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome (SFTS) currently has no preventive vaccine or treatment and has a high fatality rate, so it can be dangerous if infected. Therefore, the most important thing is to practice preventive measures to avoid tick bites.

Lee Jiryeon, Director of Masan Public Health Center, said, "The best way to prevent tick-borne infectious diseases is not to get bitten by ticks. It is important to follow preventive measures such as wearing light-colored long-sleeved clothing before outdoor activities, using tick repellents regularly, and shaking off and washing clothes immediately after returning home." She also advised, "If you experience symptoms such as high fever, chills, headache, nausea, or vomiting within about two weeks after outdoor activities, please visit a medical institution promptly for treatment."

Meanwhile, Changwon Special City is distributing tick repellents to high-risk groups such as agricultural workers and public workers involved in grass cutting in towns and villages to prevent tick-borne infectious diseases. The city is also continuously promoting preventive measures through village broadcasts and posters.