The spread of an early flu continues, with suspected influenza (flu) patients centered around infants and toddlers increasing for the eighth consecutive week.

Health authorities have urged the public to adhere to infectious disease prevention guidelines as the Chuseok holiday, during which families and relatives gather, has begun.

According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) on the 24th, the sample monitoring of about 800 clinic-level medical institutions showed that the fraction of suspected influenza patients (patients showing a fever of 38°C or higher along with coughing or a sore throat) for the 38th week of this year (September 13–19) stood at 32.3 per 1,000 people, which is four times the level of the same period last year (8.0 people).

The suspected patient fraction has been increasing for eight consecutive weeks since recording 6.4 people in the 30th week.

Compared to the sharp increases seen in the 34th week (9.2 people), 35th week (13.3 people), 36th week (25.3 people), and 37th week (31.0 people), the margin of increase itself was not large in the 38th week, but the upward trend of the flu continues.

By age group, the fraction of suspected patients in the 7–12 elementary school age group was the highest at 77.7 people, but it was the only age group to decrease compared to the previous week (78.6 people).

Ages 1–6 followed with 58.0 people, and ages 13–18 with 41.1 people, while age 0 surged by more than 30% compared to the previous week (26.8 people) to 35.7 people.

The number of hospitalized influenza patients at hospital-level medical institutions slightly increased to 436 from 428 the previous week.

The detection rate of the influenza virus among specimens from outpatients with suspected respiratory infectious diseases was 20.7%, a decrease from 24.6% the previous week.

Separately, the number of hospitalized COVID-19 patients at hospital-level medical institutions increased to 327 from 308 the previous week.

As the flu epidemic started unusually early, health authorities issued an influenza epidemic advisory for the 2026–2027 season starting at midnight on the 11th of this month and brought forward the start date of the national vaccination program for children and the elderly.

Health authorities urged that because family and relatives often gather during the Chuseok holiday, people should follow respiratory infectious disease prevention rules such as washing hands after going out, covering the mouth and nose with a sleeve when coughing, and wearing a mask when experiencing respiratory symptoms.

High-risk groups such as the elderly or immunocompromised individuals are advised to refrain from participating in crowded indoor events, and if they have a fever or respiratory symptoms, they should visit a hospital that provides medical care even during the holiday to receive proper diagnosis and treatment.
 
(Photo: Yonhap News)