Joint Task Force Formed by Relevant Ministries to Prepare for Mycoplasma Pneumonia and Flu...

In response to the recent outbreak of respiratory infectious diseases such as influenza (flu) and Mycoplasma pneumonia mainly among children and adolescents, the government has formed a joint task force involving related ministries to tackle the issue.

Jiyoungmi, Director of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency [Photo by Yonhap News]

On the 8th, Ji Young-mi, head of the Central Disease Control Headquarters (Director of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency), stated at the COVID-19 Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (CDSCH) meeting, "The government has established a joint task force involving the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, and Ministry of Education to prepare for the increase in respiratory infectious diseases, including Mycoplasma pneumonia, this winter."

The joint task force will conduct weekly checks on the supply status of hospital beds and treatments according to the occurrence of respiratory infectious diseases. Director Ji emphasized, "We will work closely with experts to distribute treatment guidelines to frontline medical institutions and respond without any disruption."

With the end of the COVID-19 pandemic and the disappearance of mask-wearing, the cold weather has led to the spread of various infectious diseases. According to the KDCA, infections caused by Mycoplasma pneumonia bacteria have increased domestically since September this year. The number of hospitalized patients has increased by 1.6 times over the past four weeks. The infections are concentrated in pediatric age groups, with 37.0% in ages 1?6 and 46.7% in ages 7?12. The proportion of suspected flu patients is 45.8 per 1,000 outpatients, about seven times higher than the epidemic threshold.

However, Mycoplasma pneumonia is not a new infectious disease. Director Ji stated, "(Mycoplasma pneumonia) is a disease that occurs in cycles of 3 to 4 years in Korea," adding, "The hospitalization rate is about 5%, with most patients treated on an outpatient basis, and the recent number of hospitalized patients is about half compared to the same period in 2019." Since the treatment methods are well known and it can heal naturally, there is no need for excessive anxiety.

Director Ji urged, "If the public experiences respiratory symptoms, please seek medical care at nearby medical institutions, and wear masks in public places." She also emphasized, "Please adhere to personal hygiene measures such as handwashing and cough etiquette."

Director Ji also urged seniors aged 65 and older to get vaccinated against COVID-19. She said, "For those aged 65 and above who have not yet been vaccinated, please actively participate in receiving both the COVID-19 and influenza vaccines to protect yourself from the winter epidemic." Since the COVID-19 vaccination campaign began on the 10th, the vaccination rate among those aged 65 and older has reached 38%, which is 1.8 times higher than the same period last year.