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Japanese Encephalitis Advisory Issued Nationwide — Busan City Urges Citizens to Follow Mosquito Prevention Guidelines

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The City of Busan (Mayor Park Heong-joon) is urging citizens to take preventive measures against mosquito bites following the issuance of a nationwide Japanese encephalitis advisory by the KDCA.

The advisory, issued on March 27, was triggered by the detection of the primary mosquito vector (Culex tritaeniorhynchus) in Jeju and Jeollanam-do for the first time this year. These mosquitoes typically inhabit rice paddies and stagnant water and are most active at night. They begin to emerge in late March and peak between August and September.

While most people infected with the Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) experience only mild symptoms like fever or headache, in rare cases the disease progresses to encephalitis, causing high fever, seizures, confusion, paralysis, and in 20–30% of cases, death.

Even among survivors, 30–50% may suffer from lasting neurological complications depending on the affected areas of the brain.

There is currently no specific treatment for Japanese encephalitis, making vaccination and mosquito bite prevention the most effective methods of protection.
Key mosquito prevention measures include:

• ●Avoiding outdoor activities at night (from dusk to dawn) during mosquito season (April–October)

• ●Wearing light-colored, long, and loose-fitting clothing

• ●Applying mosquito repellent to exposed skin, clothing, shoes, and socks

• ●Avoiding the use of strong perfumes or cosmetics that may attract mosquitoes

To prevent indoor mosquito exposure, citizens are advised to install or repair screens and use mosquito nets. Stagnant water near homes, including clogged drains and puddles, should be eliminated to reduce mosquito breeding grounds.

Free vaccinations are available for children aged 12 months to 12 years. Parents can find designated clinics on the KDCA’s Vaccination Helper website (nip.kdca.go.kr).

Vaccination is also recommended for adults without prior vaccination history who live near rice paddies or pig farms, or those planning to travel to JE-endemic countries.

Lee So-ra, Director of Citizen Health at Busan Metropolitan City, stated:

“With outdoor activities increasing and international travel rebounding in the warm spring weather, we are concerned about mosquito-borne infections. We urge citizens to get vaccinated and to follow mosquito prevention measures and environmental hygiene protocols to stay safe during the mosquito season.”