Increase Centered on Nationwide Infants and School-Age Groups Over the Past 4 Weeks
Careful Response to Mycoplasma Pneumonia Infection
Alleviating Vague Concerns About Infection... Strengthening Promotion of Prevention Guidelines
Busan City is continuously monitoring the trend of related patient cases within the city as the number of Mycoplasma pneumonia infection cases has been increasing nationwide over the past four weeks, mainly among infants and school-age children.
Mycoplasma pneumonia infection is an acute respiratory infection caused by the Mycoplasma pneumoniae bacterium.
It is prevalent from late autumn to early spring, transmitted through droplets, and has an incubation period of about 2 to 3 weeks.
Clinical symptoms begin with fever, cough, sore throat, headache, and fatigue, and in some cases, it can progress to severe atypical pneumonia.
According to experts’ opinions from the Busan City Medical Council meeting (’23.11.28.) and the joint inspection meeting hosted by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) (’23.12.8.), Mycoplasma pneumonia infection is a common type of pneumonia in Korea with well-known treatment methods, so there is no need for excessive fear.
To monitor the occurrence of Mycoplasma pneumonia infection, Busan City has designated 14 hospital-level medical institutions with over 200 beds (out of 218 nationwide) as sentinel surveillance sites and reports weekly case status to the KDCA to track nationwide trends of increase or decrease.
The current epidemic trend is at a lower level compared to the same period before the COVID-19 pandemic.
Despite the expert opinions, the city is also carefully responding by listening to opinions from the medical field regarding Mycoplasma pneumonia infection.
Medical professionals have expressed concerns about the nationwide increase in cases and the potential outbreak in Busan City, noting the rise mainly among infants and school-age children, and suggested adding ‘children’s hospitals’ to the sentinel surveillance medical institutions.
Busan City has actively accepted the medical field’s opinions and proposed the expansion of sentinel surveillance medical institutions to include ‘children’s hospitals’ to the KDCA, which is currently reviewing the matter internally.
Additionally, the city has strengthened the promotion of preventive measures to alleviate vague concerns about Mycoplasma pneumonia infection. On November 17, promotional materials including occurrence status and preventive guidelines were shared with local governments, requesting active guidance to medical institutions within the jurisdiction.
Lee Sora, Director of the Citizen Health Bureau of Busan City, stated, “Recently, respiratory infectious diseases accompanied by Mycoplasma pneumonia infection have been increasing mainly among infants and school-age children,” and added, “We recommend that infants and school-age children rest at home instead of attending school or daycare when respiratory symptoms occur, and we ask everyone to thoroughly follow personal hygiene rules to prevent respiratory infectious diseases.”
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