By Kim Rahn
The health authorities issued an influenza warning across the nation Thursday with the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) advising people to get vaccinations.
However, they noted that the type of virus spreading here is different from the deadly strain sweeping the United States.
The warning comes after 4.8 per 1,000 outpatients received treatment at hospitals for influenza symptoms during the second week of January.
An epidemic warning is issued when the figure reaches four per 1,000.
“Since the middle of December, we’ve seen a growing number of patients confirmed to have the virus. The epidemic hit the central parts of the nation, including Seoul, and Gyeonggi, Gangwon and Chungcheong provinces,” a KCDC official said.
Korea issues flu warnings on average twice a year ― between December and January when severe cold hits the country, and between March and April when the new semester begins. Last year, warnings were issued on Jan. 5 and March 30.
“When reviewing the flu trend for the last three years, the number of patients rapidly rose after a warning was issued. Such a warning usually continued for six to eight weeks, and when the epidemic reached its peak, we saw 17 to 23 patients per 1,000,” the official said.
In 2009 when a new type of influenza swept the country, the figure reached 45 per 1,000. The virus currently spreading in Korea is H1N1, the same type as that year. The one afflicting the U.S. and China is the H3N2 strain, according to the KCDC.
“The number of flu patients in the U.S. slightly decreased from 5.6 per 100 patients during the last week of December to 4.3 during the first week of January, but it is still higher than the country’s standard 2.2. Northern China is also still seeing a growing number of patients,” he said.
The KCDC expects the epidemic in the U.S. and China not to have a significant influence on Korea. “However, we are telling people traveling overseas to take precautions and are strengthening quarantine checks at airports,” the official said.
To prevent the disease, the authority recommended shots for people who are on the priority vaccination list ― those aged 50 or over, children between six months and five years old, those with chronic diseases and pregnant women.
“Especially children and the elderly are advised to get the vaccination as they have a higher chance of developing complications such as pneumonia. It takes about two weeks to develop the antibody after getting the shots, but it’s not too late yet,” he said.
People are advised to wash their hands frequently and cover their mouths when coughing in order to prevent flu from spreading. Those with flu symptoms, such as high fever, cough, sore throat or aching muscle, need to visit a hospital.