The Ilsanseo-gu Public Health Center in Goyang Special City, Gyeonggi Province (Mayor Lee Dong-hwan) recently reported a cluster case of malaria in Ilsanseo-gu and urged residents and visitors in the area to exercise special caution.
Malaria is one of the representative mosquito-borne diseases transmitted when infected mosquitoes bite humans, spreading the Plasmodium parasite. Cases mainly occur between May and October in northern Gyeonggi and Gangwon provinces, as well as Incheon.
A cluster case is defined as two or more patients within a malaria risk area who develop symptoms within 14 days of each other and whose residences are within 1 km of each other. This designation considers the flight range of malaria-carrying mosquitoes, which is 1 to 10 km, and the need to strengthen preventive management for malaria eradication.
Following the occurrence of the cluster case, Goyang City has taken measures such as providing rapid diagnostic testing guidance for symptomatic individuals, promoting malaria prevention through media outlets, and actively conducting focused mosquito control. Additionally, on-site investigations including mosquito habitat surveys, residence inspections, and risk factor identification in the affected area will be carried out.
A public health official stated, “Malaria cases occur most frequently from May to October,” adding, “Even after the malaria season ends, we will remain vigilant and do our best to eradicate malaria.”
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