Seoul: The defense ministry has issued a malaria advisory for troops stationed near the border with North Korea. This advisory, announced on Wednesday, comes in response to new cases of malaria involving soldiers who had been deployed in border regions.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the advisory was jointly released with the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) following the diagnosis of two discharged soldiers with malaria. These soldiers had served in the western border city of Paju and the central border county of Cheorwon, respectively, and were diagnosed with the disease earlier this month.

South Korea has been grappling with more than 600 cases of malaria annually since 2023, with approximately 20 percent of these cases involving active and recently discharged military personnel. The KDCA highlighted that soldiers stationed near the border face a heightened risk of contracting the mosquito-borne disease due to their outdoor guard duties and training activities.

The KDCA has recommended that troops in border areas utilize mosquito repellents and nets from April to October, which is the active transmission period for malaria. Additionally, soldiers discharged from service are eligible for free malaria testing for up to two years if they exhibit symptoms.

Malaria, transmitted through mosquito bites, can result in symptoms such as fever, fatigue, chills, vomiting, and headaches. The KDCA noted that malaria parasites could remain dormant in an individual's body for up to two years before symptoms appear.