Flu Cases 3.5 Times Higher Than Last Year... "Could Reach Highest Level in a Decade"

KDCA Reports 13.6 Suspected Influenza Cases per 1,000 Outpatients in Late October
This Winter, Seniors, Pregnant Women, and Children Urged to Receive National Vaccination

With influenza (the flu) cases nationwide having more than tripled compared to a year ago, health authorities have projected that this winter could see one of the most severe flu outbreaks in the past decade.

According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) on November 3, sample surveillance of primary care clinics across the country showed that for the 43rd week of this year (October 19-25), the proportion of suspected influenza cases was 13.6 per 1,000 outpatients, which is 3.5 times higher than the same period last year (3.9 per 1,000).

Suspected influenza cases refer to patients exhibiting symptoms such as a fever of 38 degrees Celsius or higher, accompanied by cough and sore throat. In the primary care surveillance, the proportion of suspected cases by age group was highest among those aged 7-12 (31.6 per 1,000), followed by ages 1-6 (25.8), infants under 1 year (16.4), ages 13-18 (15.8), and ages 19-49 (11.8).

The detection rate of influenza viruses in respiratory samples from primary care patients was 11.6% in the 43rd week, up by 4.3 percentage points from the previous week. The currently circulating influenza virus is mainly type A (H3N2), and no mutations affecting resistance to antiviral drugs have been identified.

Surveillance of influenza inpatients at 221 hospital-level medical institutions showed that there were 98 hospitalized patients in the 43rd week, which is 7.5 times higher than the same period last season (13 patients).

The KDCA noted that, given the higher number of cases compared to October last year and the situation in the Southern Hemisphere, the influenza epidemic for this winter season (2025-2026) is expected to be at a similar level to the 2024-25 season, which saw the most widespread flu outbreak in the past 10 years, and that the epidemic period may also be prolonged.

Hong Jeongik, Director of the Infectious Disease Policy Bureau at the KDCA, stated, "This season's influenza epidemic started about two months earlier than last year," adding, "We believe there is a possibility that influenza will spread widely again this winter, as it did last season."

Accordingly, the KDCA encouraged participation in the national vaccination program for seniors aged 65 and older, pregnant women, and children aged 6 months to 13 years. As of 6 p.m. on October 31, approximately 6.58 million seniors (60.5%) and about 1.89 million children (40.5%) had received the vaccine.

Im Seungkwan, Commissioner of the KDCA, emphasized, "There is a high possibility that influenza will spread significantly again this winter, so thorough preparation is necessary," and urged high-risk groups to get vaccinated proactively before the epidemic becomes widespread.

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