▲ Collection of hard ticks around a livestock farm
The Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency urged livestock farmers working around barns and grasslands to follow prevention guidelines today (July 29), as rising temperatures in the summer increase tick activity.
The quarantine agency advised that when working in barns or grasslands, people should wear long-sleeved work clothes and boots, and secure the cuffs and trouser hems to minimize skin exposure.
It is also important to use tick repellents and avoid sitting or lying directly on grassy areas.
After working, individuals should check their bodies and work clothes for attached ticks. If suspicious symptoms such as a high fever, vomiting, or diarrhea appear within two weeks, they should visit a medical institution and inform them of their outdoor activities.
According to the quarantine agency, various hard ticks, including the Haemaphysalis longicornis tick, inhabit forests and grasslands in South Korea.
These ticks can transmit pathogens such as severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS), Lyme disease, anaplasmosis, and babesiosis.
SFTS is a zoonotic infectious disease contracted through bites from hard ticks carrying the virus.
When infected, symptoms such as high fever, chills, muscle pain, vomiting, and diarrhea appear, and severe cases can lead to death.
According to the quarantine agency's findings, between 2013 and 2024, there were 2,065 SFTS patients in South Korea, of whom 381 died, putting the fatality rate at 18.5%.
An official from the quarantine agency said, "Currently, there are no commercialized vaccines or treatments available for these diseases, so preventing tick bites is crucial."
(Photo provided by Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency, Yonhap News)
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