By Park Si-soo
Staff Reporter
The first case of Japanese encephalitis was officially confirmed in Korea this year.
The Korea Center for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) announced Monday that a male in his mid-40s who lives in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, was infected with Japanese encephalitis.
Currently, he is being treated at a hospital and is reportedly unconsciousness.
The KCDC confirmed the case Monday after conducting spinal fluid tests.
``Japanese encephalitis cases usually occur between August and September,'' an official at KCDC said. ``Less than five percent of all infected people experience full symptoms of the disease.''
In the early stages, infected people experience chills and fever, but gradually develop more serious symptoms including vertigo, disorientation and even unconsciousness, the KCDC said.
Six Japanese encephalitis cases were reported in 2005, while there were no cases in 2004 and 2006.
The KCDC said that children under 15 need to be vaccinated and people should try and avoid being bitten by mosquitoes while outdoors.