Gwangju City Sees Spread of Summer Cold Viruses with No Available Vaccines

Up to 7 Times Higher Than COVID-19 and Influenza
"Strict Adherence to Basic Preventive Measures Such as Hand Washing"

'Cold Virus Test' stock photo. Provided by Gwangju Health and Environment Research Institute

On July 4, the Gwangju Health and Environment Research Institute stated, "The risk of viral infections that cause colds is increasing due to the greater use of air conditioning and higher indoor density during the summer," and urged citizens to strictly adhere to personal hygiene guidelines.

The Gwangju Health and Environment Research Institute, in cooperation with the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, is operating the "National Integrated Respiratory Virus Surveillance Program," which monitors nine types of pathogens in suspected respiratory infection patients at local partner medical institutions.

According to test results from the past four weeks (from the fourth week of May to the third week of June), the detection rate for rhinovirus was 26.0%, and for parainfluenza virus, it was 19.4%. These rates are five to seven times higher than those for COVID-19 (3.5%) and influenza (3.6%) during the same period, showing a trend similar to the national average.

Rhinovirus is the most common cold virus, while parainfluenza virus is prevalent from late spring to summer. In particular, parainfluenza virus can cause not only respiratory symptoms but also systemic symptoms such as gastrointestinal infections, so special caution is required.

The Gwangju Health and Environment Research Institute is also conducting monitoring by analyzing virus concentrations in domestic wastewater to proactively detect outbreaks of pathogens. In this analysis as well, changes in parainfluenza virus concentrations showed trends similar to the clinical test results.

Jung Hyuncheol, Director of the Health and Environment Research Institute, said, "The main viruses that cause summer colds do not have preventive vaccines or clear treatments, so personal hygiene practices are the most effective preventive measure," and added, "Please strictly follow basic quarantine guidelines such as washing hands before and after going out, practicing proper cough etiquette, and ventilating indoor spaces."