South Korea's Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) has issued a nationwide malaria alert after detecting genetic material from the Plasmodium vivax malaria parasite in Anopheles mosquitoes. The agency said the finding means the likelihood of contracting malaria from an infected mosquito bite has increased.
Detection in Mosquitoes
The mosquitoes were collected in Paju and Yeoncheon County, Gyeonggi Province, between July 27 and August 2. The KDCA warned that while vector mosquito density is currently lower than last year, partly due to extreme heat, populations could rise once the heat subsides.
This finding follows an earlier malaria advisory issued on June 22 due to an increase in vector mosquitoes. Historically, malaria cases in South Korea have been concentrated in areas near the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) separating the country from North Korea.
Domestically acquired malaria cases in South Korea between January 1 and August 1.
South Korea recorded 201 domestically acquired malaria cases between January 1 and August 1, a 43.4% decrease from the 355 cases in the same period last year.
The detection increases the likelihood of malaria through infected bites.
Symptoms and Prevention
Malaria has an average incubation period of about 7 days. Symptoms include fever, chills, sweating, headache, nausea, vomiting, muscle aches, and fatigue.
Authorities advised residents and visitors in malaria-risk areas to avoid nighttime outdoor activities, wear long clothing, and use mosquito repellents, screens, and nets.
