First Japanese encephalitis mosquito of the year detected in Daegu

The first Japanese encephalitis-carrying mosquito of the year has been detected in Daegu.

The Daegu Institute of Health and Environment confirmed the season's first Culex tritaeniorhynchus — the primary vector of Japanese encephalitis — on June 1, the city said Sunday.

Genetic analysis found no encephalitis virus in the specimen, however.

Japanese encephalitis is a Class 3 legally notifiable infectious disease transmitted through the bite of an infected mosquito.

Most cases produce only mild symptoms such as fever and headache, but the disease can in rare instances progress to acute encephalitis and prove fatal.

The institute runs a surveillance program from March through October, collecting mosquitoes twice a week from light traps installed at a cattle shed on Geumgang-ro in Dong-gu.

Shin Sang-hee, director of the institute, urged residents to take personal precautions against mosquito bites when outdoors — wearing long-sleeved clothing, using insect repellent and checking window screens.