The Zika virus can spread through sexual intercourse as well as mosquitoes; the virus has a causal relationship with microcephaly; and it also spreads from the mother to the fetus. (image: Wikimedia commons)
JEJU, June 2 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korea has reported its first confirmed case of Zika virus infection this year, health officials announced Monday, after a patient tested positive following travel to Southeast Asia.
According to the Jeju provincial government, a man in his 40s—identified only as Mr. A—was diagnosed with Zika virus on May 30 while staying on the island for work. Though his official residence is in Gyeonggi Province, he had recently returned from a nine-day trip to Indonesia, where he is believed to have contracted the virus through a mosquito bite.
Mr. A exhibited symptoms including chills, muscle pain, and conjunctival redness but is currently recovering. In response, Jeju authorities have launched a joint epidemiological investigation with public health officials from his registered home district.
Vector control measures have been intensified. Local health teams are collecting mosquitoes within a 200-meter radius of the patient’s residence and work area for testing, while also conducting targeted disinfection.
Zika virus infection typically follows an incubation period of 3 to 14 days after being bitten by an infected mosquito, with symptoms such as rash, fever, joint pain, and conjunctivitis.
While the illness is usually mild, it poses serious risks for pregnant women, as infection during pregnancy can lead to birth defects such as microcephaly. There is no approved vaccine or treatment, making mosquito prevention the primary defense.
Zika can also be transmitted through sexual contact, blood transfusions, and from mother to child during pregnancy.
South Korea has seen sporadic Zika cases since its first reported infections in 2016. The vast majority, including this case, have been imported, mainly from Southeast Asia. Over the past five years, only a handful of cases have been recorded—most recently in 2023—without any locally transmitted infections to date.
Health authorities continue to advise travelers to Zika-affected regions to take precautions against mosquito bites and remain vigilant upon return.
Lina Jang (linajang@koreabizwire.com)
