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Sim Yeon-i, a 29-year-old woman living in Tongjin-eup, Gimpo-si, is experiencing sleep troubles due to an unwelcome visitor – mosquitoes. Every night, as she tries to close her eyes, the sound of wings makes her reach for a book and repeatedly sit up and lie down, but catching the mosquito proves to be a challenge. The next day, she wakes up with numerous mosquito bites all over her body, especially on her arms and legs. Even taking a walk in the nearby park after lunch doesn’t spare her from the discomfort of a mosquito bite, accompanied by the inevitable itching sensation.
August 20th is World Mosquito Day, a date established in 1897 to commemorate British doctor Sir Ronald Ross’ discovery that female mosquitoes transmit malaria to humans.
This year, the number of malaria cases in Korea has shown the fastest infection rate in 12 years since 2011.
On World Mosquito Day, it is essential to delve into mosquito-borne diseases and the necessary precautions.
Diseases Carried by Mosquitoes
There are seven diseases known to be transmitted by mosquitoes: malaria, Japanese encephalitis (prevalent in Korea), dengue fever, Chikungunya fever, Zika virus infection, West Nile fever, and yellow fever.
Mosquito-borne diseases are transmitted through mosquito bites when the insect is infected with a virus or protozoan. However, these diseases are not spread from person to person. In rare cases, blood-borne transmission can occur through procedures like blood transfusions and organ transplants. Common symptoms of infection include fever, headache, joint pain, and conjunctivitis, although sometimes there are no symptoms at all.
Among these diseases, malaria, prevalent in Korea, is an acute febrile illness caused by the bite of a malaria-infected mosquito. The different types of Plasmodium malaria cause three-day fever, persimmon fever, and tropical fever malaria. In the early stages, symptoms like headache, loss of appetite, chills, high fever, and temperature fluctuations are observed. In malaria cases, chills, fever, and sweating recur every two days (48 hours). Severe cases may lead to complications such as jaundice, coagulopathy, renal and liver failure, shock, impaired consciousness, delirium, and coma.
Japanese encephalitis is an acute viral infection transmitted by the bite of a small red house mosquito carrying the Japanese encephalitis virus. Symptoms, which tend to manifest quickly, include high fever, headache, lethargy, and agitation in the early stages. As the disease progresses, it infects the central nervous system, causing impaired consciousness, coma, convulsions, and in severe cases, death.
As the number of travelers to Southeast Asia increases during the summer holiday season, imported mosquito-borne infectious diseases also need addressing. Consequently, surveillance and preventive tests for dengue fever have been intensified across 13 quarantine offices in Korea since last month, including Incheon, Pyeongtaek, and Gunsan, in response to the recent dengue fever outbreak in Southeast Asia.
Dengue fever, caused by the dengue virus, can progress to dengue fever, dengue hemorrhagic fever, and dengue shock syndrome. Typical symptoms include fever lasting 2 to 7 days, severe headaches, orbital and joint pain, maculopapular erythema and rash, hemorrhagic spots, purpura, and oral bleeding. In the acute phase, symptoms such as pleural effusion, ascites, hypoproteinemia, and hemoconcentration may occur. Prolonged states of shock can lead to severe hemorrhagic signs like hematemesis, bloody stools, and bleeding.
Prevention Tactics
Avoiding mosquito bites is the most crucial step in preventing mosquito-borne diseases.
To minimize contact with mosquitoes, it is recommended to use insect screens and mosquito nets indoors and avoid going outside during peak mosquito activity hours, typically from dusk to dawn.
While outdoors, individuals should use mosquito repellent, wear light-colored long sleeves and pants to reduce exposure, and shower frequently after sweating or outdoor activities.
To prevent imported mosquito-borne infectious diseases, it is advisable to check information on relevant diseases in each travel destination beforehand. Familiarize yourself with mosquito prevention methods, stock up on mosquito repellent products and necessary medications, including malaria preventive medication, in advance.
During the trip, it is suggested to avoid grassy forests and areas with dense mosquito populations. Dressing in light-colored, long-sleeved tops and pants while using mosquito repellent is recommended. Opting for air-conditioned accommodations with insect screens or mosquito nets can also ensure a mosquito-free environment.
Upon return, travelers entering the country from a quarantine control zone should accurately report their health status through the pre-entry quarantine information system (Q-CODE) before arriving. If you have been bitten by a mosquito or are experiencing symptoms of dengue fever, immediate testing at a quarantine station is necessary.
If suspicious symptoms like fever, headache, muscle and joint pain, and rash occur within two weeks of returning, it is crucial to visit a nearby medical facility and inform the healthcare staff about recent travel history. Additionally, donating blood is prohibited for four weeks after coming back from a trip, as there is a waiting period.
An official from the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention emphasized the need for vigilance concerning mosquito-borne infectious diseases given the recent surge in domestic malaria cases. Wearing long sleeves, long pants, and socks, along with applying mosquito repellent to clothing, is highly recommended, as mosquitoes can easily bite through thin garments.
Today’s Image.
#. Sim Yeon-i (29, female), who lives in Tongjin-eup, Gimpo-si, has been having trouble sleeping at night. This is due to ‘mosquito’, an uninvited guest in midsummer. When he wants to close his eyes, he picks up a book and looks around at the sound of ‘wing’, repeating lying down and standing up, but it is not easy to catch him. The next day after barely falling asleep and waking up, there are often traces of mosquito bites all over the body, such as arms and legs. If you go for a walk in a nearby park after lunch, your spine will be hit by ‘one shot’ of a mosquito. Itching is a bonus.
The 20th of August every year is World Mosquito Day. The day is said to have been established on August 20, 1897, to commemorate the discovery by British doctor Sir Ronald Ross that female mosquitoes transmit malaria to humans.
The number of patients infected with malaria in Korea this year shows the fastest infection trend in 12 years since 2011.
On World Mosquito Day, let’s look at mosquito-borne diseases and precautions.
◆ Diseases carried by mosquitoes
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There are seven diseases that are transmitted by mosquitoes: malaria, Japanese encephalitis, which occurs mainly in Korea, and dengue fever, Chigungunya fever, Zika virus infection, West Nile fever, and yellow fever.
Mosquito-borne diseases are transmitted by the bite of a mosquito infected with a virus or protozoan. This disease is not spread from person to person. However, in rare cases, blood-borne transmission occurs during procedures such as blood transfusions and organ transplants. When infected, symptoms such as fever, headache, joint pain, and conjunctivitis usually appear. There are cases where it is asymptomatic.
Among them, malaria, which occurs mainly in Korea, is an acute febrile disease, which is transmitted by the bite of a mosquito infected with the malaria parasite (plasma fever). According to the type of Plasmodium malaria, it is divided into three-day fever, parasol fever, and tropical fever malaria. In the case of malaria, which occurs mainly in Korea, symptoms such as headache, anorexia, chills, high fever, and an increase in temperature are found in the early stages, and in the case of malaria, chills, fever, and sweating appears again and again. every two days (48 hours). In severe cases, acute encephalopathy such as jaundice, coagulopathy, renal failure, liver failure, shock, impaired consciousness, delirium, and coma may occur.
Japanese encephalitis is an acute viral infection caused by the bite of a small red house mosquito infected with Japanese encephalitis virus. Symptoms tend to appear quickly, but in the early stages, symptoms such as high fever, headache, lethargy or agitation appear. As the disease progresses, the central nervous system is infected, leading to symptoms such as impaired consciousness, coma, convulsions, and even death in severe cases.
As the number of travelers to South East Asia increases during the recent summer holiday season, there is also a need to address infectious diseases carried by mosquitoes imported from abroad. In particular, with the recent epidemic of dengue fever in Southeast Asia, surveillance through preventive dengue fever tests has been strengthened in Korea since last month in 13 quarantine offices (branch) across the country, including Incheon, Pyeongtaek, and Gunsan.
Dengue fever is a disease caused by infection with the dengue virus and progresses to dengue fever, dengue hemorrhagic fever, and dengue shock syndrome. Starting with fever for 2 to 7 days, symptoms such as severe headache, orbital pain, joint pain and bone pain, maculopapular erythema and rash, hemorrhagic spots, purpura, and oral hemorrhage appear. In the acute phase, there are symptoms such as pleural effusion, ascites, hypoproteinemia, and hemoconcentration. If the state of shock persists, severe hemorrhagic signs such as hematemesis, bloody stools, and bleeding may be seen.
◆ How to prevent
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Avoiding mosquito bites is the most important way to prevent mosquito-borne diseases.
Accordingly, in order to prevent contact with mosquitoes, it is recommended to use insect screens and mosquito nets indoors and to refrain from going out during the hours when mosquitoes are active, such as from dusk to dawn.
When going out, use mosquito repellent and wear light colored long sleeves and long pants to reduce exposure. It’s also helpful to shower often after going out or when you sweat.
To prevent infectious diseases carried by mosquitoes imported from abroad, check information on infectious diseases to be aware of in each region before travel, familiarize yourself with mosquito prevention methods, and prepare mosquito repellent products and home medicine in advance. If necessary, take preventive medicine such as malaria in advance.
During the trip, avoid grassy forests and mountains where there are many mosquitoes. When going out, wear a light colored long sleeved top and long pants and use mosquito repellent. Live in air-conditioned accommodation with insect screens or mosquito nets.
When entering the country after travel, if you are entering the country from a quarantine control area, correctly enter your health status through the pre-entry quarantine information system (Q-CODE) before come into the country. If you have been bitten by a mosquito or have symptoms of dengue fever, you must have a rapid dengue fever test at a quarantine station.
If you have suspicious symptoms such as fever, headache, muscle pain, joint pain, rash, etc. within 2 weeks of returning home, go to a nearby medical institution and inform the medical staff about your history recent foreign visit. In addition, donating blood is prohibited for 4 weeks after returning home, as it is a waiting period for donating blood.
An official from the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said in a phone call with the Gyeonggi Ilbo, “Prevention of mosquito-borne infectious diseases requires careful attention depending on the situation, such as the recent rapid increase in domestic malaria patients.” It is recommended to wear long sleeves, long pants, and socks to avoid being bitten, and it is also useful to spray mosquito repellent over clothing as mosquitoes can bite through thin clothing.”
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