H1N1 flu hits southern schools

By Kang Shin-who

The influenza A (H1N1) virus, which swept the world last year, has returned as the weather has become colder, forcing an elementary school in a southeastern area to be closed.

A group of children at an elementary school in Daejeon were found to have been infected by the virus. A total of 16 students in fifth and sixth grades suffered from fever and tested positive for influenza A, last Friday, the authorities said.

A school in Pohang, North Gyeongsang Province, also closed its doors as a student was confirmed to be infected with the disease and another 100 students showed flu symptoms.

Health authorities said the flu is unlikely to be fatal but stressed that people should have flu shots and wash their hands regularly.

“The number of reported flu cases is about one tenth of last year’s but children, the elderly and the physically-weak need to get flu shots as preventive measures,” an official from the Health and Welfare Ministry said.