In the US, Flu Epidemic... 8,200 Deaths and 140,000 Hospitalizations Due to Complications

Passengers suspected of having symptoms of the novel coronavirus infection among Wuhan evacuees and international students who arrived at Gimpo Airport on a government charter flight are entering the National Medical Center in Jung-gu, Seoul on the morning of the 31st. Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Ga-yeon] As the novel coronavirus infection (Wuhan pneumonia) spreads worldwide, another flu virus has spread in the United States, reportedly causing more than 8,000 deaths.

According to local media such as CNN in the U.S. on the 30th (local time), 15 million people were infected with the flu this winter in the United States.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), under the Department of Health and Human Services, announced that among the 15 million people infected with the flu between 2019 and 2020, 8,200 died and 140,000 were hospitalized due to complications. Among the deceased, 54 were children.

The CDC stated that the flu has been spreading for 11 consecutive weeks and predicted that the flu spread will become more active in the coming weeks.

In particular, it was confirmed that even healthy adults in their 30s were frequently admitted to intensive care units due to complications from this flu. Patients with chronic diseases are at higher risk of developing flu complications. Infections can cause complications such as pneumonia, inflammation of the heart and brain, and organ failure, some of which can be fatal.

The U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) forecasted that this flu season will be the worst in the past 10 years.

Meanwhile, according to the National Health Commission of China (NHC) on the 31st, as of 12 a.m. that day, the number of confirmed novel coronavirus cases nationwide in 31 provinces was 9,692, with 213 deaths. The NHC reported that among the confirmed cases, 1,527 were in critical condition and 171 had been discharged after recovery. The number of suspected cases was reported to be 15,238.

According to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on the same day, overseas confirmed cases were counted as follows: Thailand 14, Singapore 13, Japan 12, Australia 9, Malaysia 8, United States 5, Germany and UAE 4 each, Canada 3, Vietnam 2, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Finland, Philippines, and India 1 each.