The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) has issued guidelines on major infectious disease prevention ahead of the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Summer Asian Games, which begin next month.
The Japan Institute for Health Security (JIHS) previously designated four infectious diseases to watch out for ahead of the event: measles, invasive meningococcal disease, Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), and enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) infection.
Notably, local measles cases rose from 45 in 2024 to 265 last year, and further surged to 547 as of last month this year.
Accordingly, the KDCA recommended checking one's measles vaccination (MMR) status before departure and getting vaccinated if the two-dose series has not been completed or vaccination history is uncertain.
The agency also urged travelers to check their Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis combination vaccine) vaccination history to prevent pertussis, and advised those recommended for vaccination to receive the shot before leaving the country.
Upon return, individuals experiencing symptoms suspected of infectious diseases, such as fever, rash, coughing, or diarrhea, must report their health status to a quarantine officer using the Q-CODE (Quarantine Control Information System) or other methods.
The KDCA plans to form and operate an infectious disease response task force until the end of the Asian Games to monitor local outbreak trends and provide infectious disease information to athletes and related organizations.
The Asian Games will be held in Aichi Prefecture and Nagoya, Japan, from September 19 to October 4.
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