Right After School Starts, Coughing Spreads... "Thought It Was Just a Cold": Emergency as This Illness Arrives Earlier Than Last Year

25.3 Influenza-like Illness Cases per 1,000 Outpatients—Double the Epidemic Threshold
Hospitalizations Surge from 166 to 300 in One Week
High-Risk Group Vaccination Schedule Adjustment Under Review

As influenza (the flu) spreads faster than usual this year, the health authorities issued an 'Influenza Epidemic Advisory' on September 11.

The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency held the 9th meeting of the Joint Task Force on Respiratory Infectious Diseases with relevant ministries on September 8 to review the status and response to influenza and COVID-19 outbreaks. The agency announced that the Influenza Epidemic Advisory has been in effect since midnight that day.

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According to sample surveillance results of influenza-like illness (ILI) patients at primary care medical institutions, the proportion of ILI cases for week 36 (August 30 to September 5) stood at 25.3 per 1,000 outpatients. This is nearly double the current season's epidemic threshold of 12.9. Compared to 6.6 during the same period last year, this represents approximately a 3.8-fold increase. Influenza is rising across all age groups, with the increase especially pronounced among school-aged children and infants.

The number of hospitalized patients is also rising rapidly. In week 36, sample surveillance at hospital-level institutions identified 300 influenza inpatients, an increase of about 81% compared to 166 the previous week. Compared to 23 during the same period last year, this is about 13 times higher.

During the advisory period, high-risk groups for influenza—such as children, pregnant women, seniors aged 65 and above, and individuals with chronic illnesses—can receive antiviral prescriptions at the physician’s discretion without additional testing and have the costs covered by health insurance.

COVID-19 is also increasing concurrently. In week 36, sample surveillance at hospital-level institutions reported 193 COVID-19 inpatients. While this is fewer than the 433 during the same period last year, hospitalizations have been rising since last month. By age, those 65 and older accounted for 65.3% of all COVID-19 inpatients. During the same period, the detection rate of the COVID-19 virus was 16.3%, up from 11.7% the previous week. The concentration of the COVID-19 virus in wastewater is also showing an upward trend.

The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency plans to begin the phased national influenza vaccination program starting September 21. However, in light of the earlier-than-usual start to the epidemic and the vaccine supply schedule, the agency is also considering adjusting the vaccination schedule for those who require heightened protection, such as those with weakened immune systems. In nursing hospitals and care facilities for the elderly, vaccination will be permitted as soon as vaccines become available, regardless of age-group scheduling.

From this season, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency has expanded the number of primary care sample surveillance sites to more sensitively monitor the influenza epidemic. The agency also plans to provide epidemic information at the metropolitan and provincial level for greater regional representativeness.

The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety and the Ministry of Health and Welfare are monitoring the supply of medications such as antipyretic analgesics and the distribution of COVID-19 treatments in preparation for an increase in respiratory infectious disease patients. The Ministry of Education is also informing families and students of respiratory infection prevention guidelines upon the start of the new school year and will review the infection control response systems of provincial education offices and schools.

Seungkwan Lim, Commissioner of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, stated, "This season, the influenza epidemic is beginning rapidly, so high-risk groups vulnerable to influenza should be especially cautious. Seniors aged 65 and above and those with weakened immune systems should visit healthcare facilities promptly upon experiencing fever or respiratory symptoms to receive appropriate diagnosis and treatment as early as possible."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.