Korea to offer free rapid diagnostic tests for dengue virus

Original from: The Korea Times

Rapid diagnostic tests for dengue fever will be accessible at all airports across the country starting Friday, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) said, Thursday. This comes in response to the rising number of domestic cases, where individuals have been contracting the virus through mosquito bites during their overseas travels.

Travelers who suspect they may have contracted dengue fever after being bitten by a mosquito abroad can now undergo testing at 13 airport and port quarantine centers located throughout the country.

Test results can be obtained within 15 to 20 minutes. In the event of a positive result, individuals are strongly advised to seek confirmation and undergo additional diagnostic testing at a medical institution.

Dengue fever is an infectious disease transmitted through mosquitos that carry the virus. Typical symptoms are fevers, headaches, chills and muscle pain, typically emerging after an incubation period of five to seven days.

Given the absence of effective vaccines and treatments, it is important to prevent mosquito bites.

According to the KDCA, global cases of dengue fever surged to pre-COVID-19 levels last year, exceeding 5 million cases and resulting in over 5,000 deaths across 86 countries. In Korea, the number of cases reached 206 last year, doubling in number from 2022.

The rise in dengue fever cases is attributed to a surge in overseas travel, a trend that has gained momentum with the end of the COVID-19 pandemic. This is in stark contrast to the 43 cases reported in 2020 and only three cases in 2021, both of which occurred during travel restrictions imposed due to the pandemic.

The main regions contributing to the influx of the virus are Southeast Asian countries, specifically Vietnam, Thailand, the Philippines and Indonesia.

Notably, in September last year, a Korean citizen who visited Bangladesh on business died from the dengue virus.

Given that about 5 percent of dengue fever patients can die from severe infections, timely diagnosis and treatment are crucial if suspicious symptoms arise.

KDCA Commissioner Ji Young-mee advised individuals intending to travel internationally to remain vigilant about dengue fever prevention guidelines throughout their entire trip. Additionally, she has advocated for the proactive utilization of the quarantine facility's rapid diagnostic test kit.

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Source: Korea to offer free rapid diagnostic tests for dengue virus