May is approaching, with simultaneous outbreaks of flu and cold... COVID-19 cases are also increasing

Pharmacy image [Image source=Yonhap News]

With the return to school and the lifting of indoor mask mandates, various respiratory infectious diseases such as influenza and the common cold are on the rise. In particular, patients are increasing mainly among infants and school-age children whose immunity to various respiratory viruses has decreased due to mask-wearing during the COVID-19 era.

According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency on the 21st, the influenza-like illness (ILI) rate in the 15th week of this year (April 9?15) was recorded at 18.5 per 1,000 outpatient visits. Considering it was 11.7 in the 11th week (March 12?18), it has jumped 58.1% in one month. This figure is nearly four times the epidemic threshold of 4.9 for this season. The highest rate was among children aged 7?12 years at 38.2, followed by those aged 13?18 years (21.8) and 1?6 years (21.0). Influenza usually peaks in the past winter and declines in spring, but this year it is showing a different pattern as various preventive measures such as mask-wearing are no longer in place.

Acute respiratory infections showing cold symptoms such as runny nose, headache, and sore throat are also on the rise. Acute respiratory infections are caused by rhinovirus (HRV), the most common cause; adenovirus (HAdV), which is vulnerable to children; and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), which commonly affects infants. Due to this, the number of hospitalized patients reached 2,201 in the 15th week, nearly doubling in one month. At the same time last year, only 123 patients were hospitalized due to acute respiratory infections.

There are also signs of a slight rebound in the COVID-19 outbreak. On this day, the number of new confirmed cases was 13,596, an increase of 1,930 compared to 11,666 on the 14th, a week earlier. The number of new confirmed cases has been increasing for eight consecutive days from the 14th to this day.

The health authorities stated, “It appears that the number of respiratory infectious disease patients is increasing in conjunction with the March school reopening period.” To prevent respiratory infectious diseases, they emphasized that “practicing personal hygiene rules such as regular handwashing before and after going out, observing proper cough etiquette, and avoiding touching the eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands is important.”