Gyeonggi Province Issues 'Malaria Alert' for Yeoncheon County on 9th

Following Paju, Kimpo, and Goyang, Gyeonggi Province issued a malaria alert for Yeoncheon County on the 9th.

A malaria alert is issued when the first cluster case occurs after a nationwide malaria caution is declared, or when the average daily number of vector mosquitoes in a single city or county remains at 5.0 or higher for two consecutive weeks, in order to prevent community-wide transmission.

This alert comes after the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency declared a nationwide malaria caution on June 22, and the first cluster case was subsequently confirmed in Yeoncheon County. A cluster case refers to a situation where two or more patients' symptom onset intervals fall within 14 days and their residential distances are within 1km in a malaria risk area.

In Gyeonggi Province, the first malaria alert of this year was issued in Paju City on July 9, followed by alerts in Kimpo City on August 3 and Goyang City on August 21.

For early detection of additional cases in Yeoncheon County, intensive public awareness campaigns will be conducted through local medical and pharmaceutical associations, and residents and visitors to the county will be informed of infection risks through safety text messages and media outlets. Additionally, intensive control of mosquitoes in patient vicinity and vector habitats, rapid diagnostic testing for early detection, and provision of preventive medications will be actively implemented in accordance with the alert measures.

Meanwhile, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency's infectious disease portal (dportal.kdca.go.kr), a total of 295 malaria cases have been reported nationwide as of September 9 this year. Gyeonggi Province accounts for 163 cases, representing approximately 55% of the national total.

Yoo Young-cheol, head of the Gyeonggi Province Health and Welfare Division, said, "In malaria risk areas, vector mosquito control must be strengthened and residents must follow prevention guidelines to avoid mosquito bites," and urged, "Residents and visitors in risk areas should undergo rapid testing at nearby health centers and medical facilities at the earliest sign of suspected malaria symptoms."