Japanese encephalitis virus detected in Ulsan mosquitoes

The Ulsan Metropolitan City Institute of Health and Environment has confirmed the presence of Japanese encephalitis virus in mosquitoes collected during a surveillance project. This marks the first detection of the virus in mosquitoes collected in Ulsan since the monitoring program began in 2023.

Testing conducted during the fourth week of July identified the virus in two separate instances: one Culex tritaeniorhynchus mosquito collected from a park in Jung-gu and one Culex pipiens mosquito collected from a livestock farm in Ulju-gun. The research institute had been testing for six different pathogens, including Dengue, Zika, Yellow Fever, West Nile, and Chikungunya.

Following the discovery, health authorities notified local governments and public health centers, requesting disinfection and pest control in the affected areas and nearby mosquito breeding sites. Health officials have advised residents to take precautions during outdoor and nighttime activities, such as wearing light-colored long clothing, using mosquito repellent, and removing standing water near homes.