‘Kollok Kollok’ Nationwide Flu Cases Surge... Hanam-si Urges "Hurry Up with Vaccinations"

Gyeonggi Hanam City (Mayor Lee Hyun-jae) has urged people to get vaccinated and follow respiratory disease prevention guidelines as influenza (flu), accompanied by high fever and cough, has rapidly spread nationwide since last month.

Hanam City has been urging vaccination and adherence to respiratory disease prevention guidelines as influenza, accompanied by high fever and cough, has rapidly spread nationwide since last month. Photo by Hanam City

According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency on the 7th, the influenza-like illness (ILI) rate, which indicates the number of suspected flu patients showing flu symptoms among 1,000 outpatients visiting 300 influenza sentinel surveillance medical institutions nationwide during the last week of 2024 (week 52, December 22?28), was 73.9.

Compared to 31.3 per 1,000 patients in week 51, one week earlier, this represents a 136% surge. This is the highest figure in eight years since 2016, when the influenza peak was 86.2.

Patients increased across all age groups, but especially among adolescents aged 13 to 18, with 151.3 patients per 1,000. This was followed by 7 to 12 years old at 137.3, 19 to 49 years old at 93.6, 1 to 6 years old at 58.4, and 50 to 64 years old at 45.7.

Hanam City is actively recommending flu vaccination to protect those with weakened immunity and to prevent serious complications.

To prevent influenza, Hanam City is providing free vaccinations until April 30 for high-risk groups, including seniors aged 65 and older, infants and children aged 6 months to 13 years, pregnant women, and medically vulnerable groups.

Eligible individuals can visit one of the 147 designated local medical institutions or any designated medical institution nationwide with their ID and pregnancy confirmation documents (for pregnant women) to receive the vaccination. The list of designated medical institutions can be found on the Hanam City Public Health Center website and the Vaccination Helper site.

Park Kang-yong, director of the Hanam City Public Health Center, said, “Influenza is rapidly spreading recently, and it is expected to continue through the spring season. We urge people not to think it is too late and to get vaccinated against influenza even now.”

He added, “Please strictly follow basic respiratory infection prevention guidelines such as washing hands before and after going out, practicing proper cough etiquette, wearing masks when respiratory symptoms occur, and regularly ventilating indoor spaces.”