After a confirmed patient in Gwangyang, City immediately informs pregnant women of ‘rules of prevention’.
Since Jan., city has moved ahead to eliminate mosquito larvae from septic tanks

As the country’s first Zika virus patient occurred in Gwangyang, the city is advising special precautions while actively promoting the city safe from infection.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) disclosed on Mar. 22 that a resident of Gwangyang who can only be known as L, 43, and traveled to the eastern part of Brazil for 22 days from Feb. 22, was confirmed as a Zika virus patient in a DNA test.

Following the CDC confirmation, the city alerted Pregnant Women’s Rules for Preventing Zika Virus to 1,042 pregnant women registered with the city’s Community Health Centers, for the purpose of stop the spread of fear among the public.

Then, the city sent an official document on inspecting suspicious patients to Korea Medical Association of Yeosu City and eight other hospital-class health facilities.

With worldwide sharp increase of Zika virus patients, the city has since January implemented massive elimination of mosquito larvae from 360 septic tanks in the city. On Feb. 15 and Mar. 4, the city eliminated hibernating mosquitoes from all parts of the city simultaneously.

Yeosu Mayor Ju Cheol-hyeon said, “We think there won’t be any more cases of infection, because mosquitoes aren’t active this time of the year and no Zika virus-infected mosquitoes have come into the country,” and added, “As we are conducting preemptive preventive activities, the city is safe from Zika virus infection.”