First Japanese Encephalitis Case Confirmed This Year... Woman in Her 60s Hospitalized

Disease Control Agency: "Japanese Encephalitis Vaccination Recommended"

The first case of Japanese encephalitis in Korea this year has been confirmed. This is about five weeks earlier than last year.

According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency on September 9, a woman in her 60s who visited a medical institution on August 15 with symptoms such as high fever, chills, and vomiting, was diagnosed with Japanese encephalitis that day.

An epidemiological investigation revealed that the patient had been bitten by a mosquito, and she had not received a Japanese encephalitis vaccination. She is currently undergoing inpatient treatment due to underlying conditions, including chronic renal failure.

Red House Mosquito. The Asia Business Daily DB

In Korea, Japanese encephalitis cases mostly occur between August and November, with about 80% of all cases concentrated in September and October. By age group, those aged 50 and older accounted for 65.9% of cases.

This year, the Japanese encephalitis alert and warning were issued on March 20 and June 17, respectively. Compared to last year, when the alert was issued on March 27 and the warning on August 1, both were issued earlier. The first case this year also occurred about five weeks ahead of last year.

The disease control authorities recommended that children aged 12 years or younger (born after January 2013), who are eligible for the National Immunization Program, receive the Japanese encephalitis vaccine according to the standard immunization schedule.

They also advised that unvaccinated adults aged 18 and older who live in high-risk areas such as near rice paddies or pig farms, or who plan to engage in activities in these areas during the transmission season, should also get vaccinated.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.