Influenza Cases on the Rise...Authorities Urge Prevention Vaccination and Personal Hygiene

Influenza virus detections in Gyeonggi Province have been increasing recently, highlighting the importance of not only vaccination but also personal hygiene management.

Following the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency's issuance of an influenza epidemic alert, Gyeonggi Province has maintained high detection rates of the influenza virus and has urged attention to vaccination, hand washing, and respiratory etiquette.

The influenza epidemic alert was issued on September 11, approximately one month earlier than October 17 of the previous year, and influenza infection cases have been increasing since then.

Relevant authorities are urging vaccination. The national free influenza vaccination program began on the 21st of last month, and children, pregnant women, and seniors aged 65 and older can receive free vaccinations at designated medical institutions and health centers. Medical institutions can be found on the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency's Vaccination Helper website (nip.kdca.go.kr).

According to a test conducted by the Gyeonggi Province Institute of Health and Environment on respiratory symptomatic individuals who visited 18 sample surveillance medical institutions in the province, the influenza virus detection rate was 4.0-6.1% in August but increased to 26.4% in September. By the end of September, it decreased to 14.3%, but has maintained levels higher than before the epidemic alert was issued.

Influenza has an incubation period of 1-4 days (average 2 days) after infection, followed by symptoms such as fever, cough, headache, muscle pain, runny nose, and sore throat. In particular, elderly individuals aged 65 and older, children, pregnant women, and those with chronic diseases face higher risks of complications such as pneumonia and require special attention.

Kim Myeong-gil, head of the Infectious Disease Research Division at the Gyeonggi Province Institute of Health and Environment, urged, "Since the influenza epidemic alert has been issued and high levels of virus detection are being maintained in the province, please actively participate in vaccination and exercise caution regarding personal hygiene such as hand washing and respiratory etiquette, and strictly adhere to safety guidelines."