Photo : YONHAP News

The South Korean Disease Control Authority has warned travelers to be especially careful in view of rising cases of dengue fever in Southeast Asia.

The Agency for Disease Control and Prevention (KDCA) urged on Tuesday that those planning a trip to Southeast Asia should take precautions to avoid dengue fever.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO) data, 10,123 cases of dengue fever have been reported in Singapore till May this year. This is four times higher than the same period last year.

A total of four cases were reported in South Korea till June 10 in the current year. All cases are imported cases from Indonesia and Thailand.

As a precaution, you should avoid grassy and dense areas of mountains and wear light colored clothes if possible. If any suspicious symptoms occur within two weeks of your return, you should go to the nearest medical facility and inform them about your foreign travel.

Dengue fever is a viral disease transmitted by mosquitoes of the Aedes genus. After an incubation period of three to 14 days, symptoms such as fever, headache, chills and body aches appear. There are currently no vaccines or medicines against it.

The KDCA warned that the Asian tiger mosquito, one of the mosquito species that transmits dengue fever, lives in all parts of South Korea. Therefore, it is important to monitor and respond to prevent spread and domestication.