The Gyeonggi Institute of Health and Environment has issued a special advisory for the new school year, urging heightened attention to major infectious diseases such as chickenpox and mumps.
According to the Institute, of the 30,166 chickenpox cases reported nationwide last year, 8,928 occurred in Gyeonggi Province, accounting for 29.6% of the total. Among these, 6,977 patients were aged 5 to 19, making up 78.1% of the cases in the province. For mumps, 1,980 cases were reported in Gyeonggi Province out of 6,719 nationwide (29.5%), with those aged 5 to 19 representing 63.2% (1,251 cases).
In particular, both of these infectious diseases tend to increase from March to May each year and then decrease afterward, making disease control and preparedness during the start of the school year especially important. Because the risk of transmission is higher due to group activities, it is essential to check vaccination records in advance and seek immediate medical care if symptoms such as fever, rash, or pain near the ears develop.
Kim Myunggil, Head of the Infectious Disease Research Division at the Gyeonggi Institute of Health and Environment, said, "It is more important than ever for students to practice personal hygiene as the school year begins," and requested, "During the infectious period, please ensure that children do not attend daycare centers, kindergartens, or schools and pay extra attention at home."
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