Gyeonggi Province Issues Second Malaria Alert of the Year for Gimpo City

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Cheon Ui-hyeon] Gyeonggi Province announced on the 3rd that it has issued the second malaria alert of the year for Gimpo City.

This alert comes following the occurrence of the first cluster case in Gimpo City after the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency issued a nationwide malaria advisory on June 22nd. A cluster case refers to an incident in which two or more patients in a malaria risk area occur within 14 days apart and within 1 km of residential distance.

The province previously issued the first malaria alert of the year for Paju City on the 9th of last month.

According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency's infectious disease portal, as of this date, there have been 230 reported malaria cases nationwide this year, of which the province accounts for 124 cases, representing approximately 53.9% of the national patient count.

Yoo Young-chul, head of Gyeonggi Province's Health and Welfare Bureau, stated, "Residents and visitors to risk areas must adhere to mosquito prevention measures and undergo prompt testing if suspicious symptoms develop."