Seoul's Gangbuk-gu launches summer pest control campaign to prevent infectious diseases

Seoul's Gangbuk-gu said it is launching a comprehensive pest control and disinfection campaign to prevent infectious diseases caused by mosquitoes and sanitary pests during the summer and to create a cleaner living environment for residents.

The district kicked off its summer pest control program June 5 with a launch ceremony and stream-cleanup activity at Uicheon Sports Park.

Three mobile disinfection units from the district public health center will carry out intensive mosquito and pest control operations across the entire district through November.

Disinfection work will proceed on a rotating schedule by neighborhood. In residential areas, apartment complexes and along roadsides, the district will minimize vehicle-based fogging and instead use eco-friendly methods — residual spray disinfection and larval control — to reduce environmental impact.

To cut off mosquito breeding at the source, the district is also distributing and installing mosquito screens on septic tank vents and conducting larval control work in storm drains. Mobile disinfection teams will install the screens and eliminate mosquito larval habitats in line with each neighborhood's patrol schedule.

Control efforts extend beyond sanitary pests to harmful animals such as rats. The district has installed 59 smart rodent-control devices at three priority management sites that see frequent complaints and high foot traffic.

Alongside this, the district has set up 221 attractant-based traps at key locations to respond to a mass outbreak of love bugs — known in Korean as the red-backed velvet fly — during June and July.

"We are pursuing a comprehensive pest management strategy — from disinfection and larval control to the operation of smart pest-control equipment — to prevent infectious diseases caused by mosquitoes and sanitary pests," district mayor Lee Soon-hee said. "We will do our utmost to ensure thorough pest management in order to protect residents' health and create a pleasant living environment."