Incheon Influenza Detection Rate Triples in Six Weeks — Officials Urge Vaccination and Preventive Measures

The influenza virus detection rate in Incheon has more than tripled over the past six weeks. The Incheon Metropolitan Government (Mayor Park Chan-dae) urged high-risk groups such as older adults to get vaccinated and to follow preventive measures including handwashing and mask-wearing.

[코리안투데이] Pathogen sample surveillance in progress at the Incheon Metropolitan Government Institute of Public Health and Environment © 장형임 기자

The Incheon Metropolitan Government called on residents to strictly observe respiratory infectious disease prevention measures as the influenza virus detection rate within the city has risen sharply. It particularly emphasized active participation in vaccination among high-risk groups for respiratory infections, including older adults.

Incheon’s appeal is based on a clear upward trend detected by the regional pathogen surveillance network. The Incheon Metropolitan Government Institute of Public Health and Environment, jointly with the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA), operates the Korea Respiratory Virus Integrated Surveillance System (K-RISS) and conducts pathogen sample surveillance of respiratory patients in cooperation with eight medical institutions in the city.

According to the surveillance findings, the influenza virus detection rate in the city rose from 8.3% in the fifth week of July (Week 31) to 26.1% in the second week of September (Week 37), an increase of 17.8 percentage points in just six weeks. The Week 37 detection rate is more than eight times higher than the 3.1% recorded in the same week last year.

The detected virus was confirmed to be the predominant genotype A(H1N1)pdm09, the same strain currently circulating nationwide. By age group, the rate was relatively high among infants and young children at 28.6% for those aged 0 to 6 and 27.8% for those aged 7 to 12, indicating a particular need for infection control in group settings such as daycare centers and schools.

The nationwide spread is also unusually early. The KDCA issued an influenza epidemic alert as of September 11. Compared with last year, when the epidemic alert was issued on October 17, this year’s alert came 36 days earlier, which is interpreted to mean that vaccination and preventive measures should be undertaken all the more promptly.

To prevent influenza, residents should follow measures such as ▲getting vaccinated ▲washing hands with soap under running water for at least 30 seconds ▲covering the mouth and nose with a tissue or sleeve when coughing or sneezing ▲wearing a mask when experiencing respiratory symptoms ▲avoiding touching the eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands ▲and ventilating indoor spaces frequently.

Kim Myung-hee, director of the Institute of Public Health and Environment, said, ‘We are strengthening pathogen surveillance in cooperation with regional medical institutions in order to quickly grasp the occurrence of respiratory infectious diseases, including influenza.’ She added, ‘We will continue to closely monitor local trends and do our utmost to provide accurate test results as swiftly as possible.’

지역 홍보대사 신청 기자양성과정 신청 코리안투데이 지부장 신청 코리안투데이 인천강화