The Disease Control Agency will adjust its quarantine regulations in response to global infectious disease trends, effective October 1. Japan and Hong Kong, where chikungunya has emerged, along with Bangladesh, which is experiencing a measles surge, have been added to the list of quarantine areas. Travelers to these regions are urged to exercise caution and report any symptoms.
On September 21, the Disease Control Agency announced that it will designate 32 priority quarantine areas and 177 quarantine areas based on the current status of infectious diseases abroad, effective October 1.
Michigan, Brazil, and Others Designated for Animal Influenza Monitoring
A total of 32 countries have been designated as priority quarantine areas due to high mortality rates and infection risks, requiring intensive quarantine upon entry. These include regions affected by plague, animal influenza, MERS, Ebola, and Nipah virus.
This quarter's adjustments saw significant changes in the countries affected by human infections of animal influenza. India and Henan Province in China have been removed from the list, while Brazil, Michigan in the U.S., and Anhui and Jiangsu provinces in China have been newly added. However, India remains a priority area for Nipah virus, and reporting obligations continue.
Travelers who have stayed in or transited through these priority quarantine areas must report their health status to quarantine officials using a health questionnaire or Q-CODE, regardless of symptoms.
Chikungunya Outbreaks in Japan and Hong Kong, Measles Surge in Bangladesh
The general quarantine areas, which cover 15 infectious diseases, now total 177 countries, with seven new additions and three removals compared to the previous quarter.
Notably, Japan and Hong Kong, popular destinations for South Korean travelers, have been added to the quarantine list due to recent outbreaks of chikungunya, a mosquito-borne illness.
Additionally, China has expanded its quarantine area for chikungunya to include not only Guangdong Province but also Sichuan Province, Chongqing, and Fujian Province, as local infection cases continue to be reported.
Furthermore, measles cases have surged in the Americas and Southeast Asia, increasing by two to seven times compared to last year, prompting the addition of Bangladesh, which has seen a spike in cases since March, to the quarantine list.
Travelers who have been in or transited through these quarantine areas must report any symptoms of infectious diseases, such as fever or cough, to quarantine officials upon entry. Detailed information on country-specific designations can be found on the Disease Control Agency and Q-CODE websites.
Im Seung-kwan, head of the Disease Control Agency, stated, "We are closely monitoring the status of infectious diseases abroad and regularly designating and removing priority and quarantine areas. We urge travelers to check for infectious disease information before departure and actively report their health status upon entry using Q-CODE and other means."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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