Flu Spread This Year Faster Than Last Year... "Currently at December Levels"

Since the start of the school term, influenza (flu) outbreaks have been intensifying, mainly among children and adolescents. The recent spread of the flu is even faster than last year, when cases surged due to relaxed quarantine measures.

According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency on the 7th, during the fourth week of last month, from the 24th to the 30th, the number of patients showing suspected flu symptoms who visited 196 nationwide sentinel surveillance medical institutions was 20.8 per 1,000 outpatients. This is about a 20% increase from 17.3 the previous week. This marks the fourth consecutive week of increase since the flu epidemic advisory was issued on the 15th of last month. It is also more than three times the 6.5 threshold for the 2023?2024 flu season epidemic criteria.

In particular, as the flu outbreak continues, the number of suspected flu patients reached the usual December level already in the fourth week of last month, just before the Chuseok holiday. In the 2019?2020 and 2022?2023 seasons, the numbers reached 17.3 and 19.5 respectively only by the second week of December.

The flu outbreak is especially evident among students and young children who live in group settings such as schools, kindergartens, and daycare centers. The rates were highest among ages 7?12 (53.8), followed by 13?18 (31.8), and 1?6 (22.9). Compared to the same period last year, the number of flu patients aged 7?12 is 8.4 times higher, and those aged 13?18 are 5.9 times higher.

Recently, the flu outbreak has also shown a significant increase among hospitalized patients and those with severe acute respiratory infections, requiring caution. As of the fourth week of last month, 23.9% of hospitalized patients at 219 nationwide sentinel hospitals for acute respiratory infections, and 21.1% of patients hospitalized with severe acute respiratory infections at 42 tertiary general hospitals, were flu patients.

From the 20th of last month until April 30th next year, the national influenza vaccination program is underway. General citizens who are not eligible for the national vaccination program can also receive paid vaccinations at primary medical institutions.

The health authorities urged, "Since the flu outbreak may spread further, please actively participate in the national vaccination program." They emphasized, "Especially children, pregnant women, and seniors aged 65 and over, who are at relatively higher risk of complications such as pneumonia when infected, should get vaccinated as soon as possible." They added, "Considering the high level of flu outbreaks among students in group living environments, even those not in high-risk groups must get vaccinated."

Meanwhile, since the 2023?2024 flu season epidemic advisory was already issued last month, antiviral medications for high-risk groups such as children, pregnant women, and seniors aged 65 and over are covered by health insurance benefits without requiring testing.

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