Gwangju City Reports Surge in Influenza Cases... Urges Adherence to Prevention Guidelines

Gwangju City Hall

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Seon-gang] Gwangju Metropolitan City recently urged compliance with personal hygiene rules such as vaccination for high-risk groups, handwashing, and cough etiquette to prevent infection, as the number of influenza-like illness (ILI) patients with similar symptoms is rapidly increasing.

According to Gwangju City on the 7th, since the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency issued a nationwide influenza epidemic advisory on November 15 last year (week 45, 6.1 ILI patients per 1,000 outpatients in Gwangju), the number of ILI patients has continuously increased, reaching 48.6 per 1,000 outpatients in Gwangju during week 52 (2019.12.23.~12.28.) (national average 49.8).

Gwangju City advised that anyone with suspected influenza symptoms such as a fever above 38℃ and cough or sore throat should seek early medical treatment at a nearby medical institution.

In particular, high-risk patients such as children under 9 years old, pregnant women, those aged 65 and older, and immunocompromised individuals are eligible for antiviral treatment coverage without influenza testing. For those not in high-risk groups, antiviral treatment coverage is recognized only if the influenza test is positive.

Additionally, Gwangju City is providing free influenza vaccinations for children aged 6 months to under 12 years old until April 30, and since influenza infection and spread may continue through March and April, those who have not been vaccinated are advised to receive the influenza vaccination in preparation.

Free influenza vaccinations for children are available at designated medical institutions and can be confirmed through the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency’s Vaccination Helper website or call center.

To prevent influenza, it is essential to make a habit of washing hands with soap under running water for more than 30 seconds, especially after going out, before and after meals, after blowing the nose, coughing, sneezing, or using the restroom.

When coughing, cover the mouth and nose with a tissue or the upper sleeve of clothing, immediately dispose of used tissues or masks in a trash bin, and always practice proper handwashing after coughing.

Furthermore, childcare facilities, schools, nursing homes, and other group living environments vulnerable to influenza outbreaks should pay special attention to prevention and patient management.

If infants, young children, or students are infected with influenza, to prevent transmission within the group, they should not attend daycare centers, kindergartens, schools, or academies until 24 hours after their body temperature has returned to normal without the use of fever reducers.

In facilities where high-risk groups such as elderly nursing homes live communally, vaccinations should be administered to both staff and residents, influenza symptom monitoring for residents should be strengthened, visits by visitors with respiratory symptoms should be restricted, and symptomatic individuals should be isolated separately.

Kim Kwang-eun, Director of the City Health Policy Division, said, “The number of influenza-like illness patients has recently increased sharply, so those who have not been vaccinated are encouraged to get vaccinated now to prevent influenza and its spread,” and added, “It is important to strictly follow personal hygiene rules such as proper handwashing and cough etiquette and to seek early diagnosis and treatment if influenza symptoms are suspected.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.