"Unprecedented in 10 Years... Rapid Spread Alarms Authorities as Patient Numbers Surge"

Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency Holds Joint Meeting on Respiratory Infectious Diseases
"Prolonged and Large-Scale Flu Epidemic Expected This Year"

The influenza (flu) epidemic, which arrived earlier than usual this year, is spreading rapidly. The number of patients has already reached the highest level for this period in the past ten years, prompting health authorities to be on high alert.

Yonhap News Agency

On November 17, Seungkwan Lim, Commissioner of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, held a joint countermeasure meeting of ministries related to respiratory infectious diseases and stated, "This year, the flu epidemic began in October, earlier than usual, and is showing signs of rapid spread."

The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency issued a flu epidemic advisory on October 17. Excluding the years 2020 to 2023, when the epidemic pattern was affected by COVID-19, this is the earliest advisory issued in the past ten years.

During the 45th week of this year (November 2-8), the number of suspected flu patients per 1,000 outpatients at 300 sample surveillance medical institutions was 50.7, a sharp increase of 122.3% compared to 22.8 the previous week. The spread was particularly pronounced among children and adolescents aged 18 and under. Among suspected flu patients aged 7 to 12, the number reached 138.1 per 1,000, double the previous week's figure of 68.4.

Commissioner Lim explained, "The number of suspected flu patients in the 45th week of this year is the highest for this period in the past ten years," adding, "The number of suspected cases among elementary school-aged children is similar to the peak level of the previous season."

Seungkwan Lim, Commissioner of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, is presiding over the "7th Joint Countermeasure Meeting of Respiratory Infectious Disease Related Ministries" via video on the 17th. Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency

This pattern of influenza epidemic and the characteristics of the virus are not unique to Korea. According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, influenza epidemics have also started one to two months earlier than last year and are spreading in Japan and the United Kingdom.

Commissioner Lim said, "Considering the current trend of increasing influenza cases and the situation abroad, it is expected that this year's flu epidemic period will be prolonged, and the scale may be similar to last year. Please practice thorough personal hygiene, such as hand washing, and actively participate in vaccination."

The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency is supporting influenza vaccination for seniors aged 65 and older, pregnant women, and children aged six months to 13 years. Currently, the vaccination rate for children aged six months to 13 years is 57.2%, which is 4 percentage points higher than the same period last year.

At the meeting, the agency also reviewed the epidemic status of other respiratory infectious diseases, such as COVID-19 and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). COVID-19 hospitalizations, which increased during the summer, have been declining since mid-September and are now maintaining a level of fewer than 200 patients per week.

As of the 45th week of this year, the number of RSV infection hospitalizations stands at 216, somewhat higher than the 122 recorded during the same period last year. In the past four weeks, 84.1% of hospitalized RSV patients were aged 0 to 6, meaning that special attention is needed in postpartum care centers and childcare facilities, as most patients are infants and young children.