Winter season outbreak: 'Flu and Norovirus' patients double in a week

Be careful of colds. I should wear a mask when I go out.

 

Influenza: 13.6 patients per 1,000 people → 31.3 patients... 2.3 times increase

Norovirus cases increase from 142 to 247... consecutive outbreaks of food poisoning

(Seoul=News1) Reporter Jo Yoori = The number of patients infected with the seasonal infectious diseases influenza and norovirus has roughly doubled in a week. For both infectious diseases, it is important to follow basic hygiene and prevention guidelines during the year-end gatherings when transmissible diseases are prevalent.

 

According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency on the 27th, during the 51st week (15th to 21st), the number of doctor visits per 1,000 outpatient visitors was 31.3, a 2.3-fold increase from 13.6 in the 50th week. The influenza epidemic threshold for the 2024-2025 season is 8.6, which is nearly four times this figure. The agency issued an influenza warning across the country at midnight on the 20th to prepare for the increasing number of flu patients.

 

The number of suspected influenza cases during this seasonal period was 6.1 in week 36, when the count began, and then maintained an average in the 4s. Starting from week 47, the number steadily increased over five weeks. It rose from 4.8 in week 47 to 5.7 in week 48, 7.3 in week 49, 13.6 in week 50, and sharply jumped to 31.3 in week 51.

 

During the same period, the number of hospitalized influenza patients also continued to increase. From 67 patients in week 48 (last month, 24th to 30th), to 87 in week 49, and 200 in week 50, the number of hospitalized patients rose to 409 in week 51.

 

The number of patients infected with norovirus, which is prevalent during the winter season, continues to increase. According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, the number of norovirus patients rose from 69 in week 47 to 80 in week 48, and 114 in week 49, reaching 142 in week 50, and then increased 1.7 times to 247 in week 51.

 

(Seoul=News1) Reporter Jo Yoori = The number of patients infected with the seasonal infectious diseases, influenza and norovirus, has roughly doubled in a week. For both infectious diseases, it is important to follow basic hygiene and prevention guidelines during the year-end gatherings when transmissible diseases are prevalent.

 

According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency on the 27th, the number of doctor visits per 1,000 outpatients in the 51st week (15th to 21st) was 31.3, a 2.3-fold increase from 13.6 in the 50th week. The influenza epidemic threshold for the 2024-2025 season is 8.6, which is nearly four times this figure. The agency issued an influenza warning across the country at midnight on the 20th to prepare for the increasing number of flu patients.

 

The number of suspected influenza cases during this seasonal period was 6.1 in week 36, when the count began, and then maintained an average in the 4s. Starting from week 47, the number steadily increased over five weeks. It rose from 4.8 in week 47 to 5.7 in week 48, 7.3 in week 49, 13.6 in week 50, and sharply jumped to 31.3 in week 51.

 

During the same period, the number of hospitalized influenza patients also continued to increase. From 67 patients in week 48 (last month, 24th to 30th), to 87 in week 49, and 200 in week 50, the number of hospitalized patients rose to 409 in week 51.

 

The number of patients infected with norovirus, which is prevalent during the winter season, continues to increase. According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, the number of norovirus patients rose from 69 in week 47 to 80 in week 48, and 114 in week 49, reaching 142 in week 50, and then increased 1.7 times to 247 in week 51.

 

Since the number of cases recorded in weeks 1 to 7 last year and this year ranged from 200 to 400, caution is needed in preventing infectious diseases.

 

Recently, there have been outbreaks of norovirus food poisoning cases across the country. In Gwangju this month, a total of three cases of mass food poisoning occurred, and as a result of investigations, norovirus was detected in two of them. Additionally, according to the Incheon Institute of Public Health and Environment on this day, soldiers belonging to a subordinate unit of Incheon City complained of food poisoning symptoms last month, and tests confirmed that the food poisoning was caused by norovirus.

 

Norovirus food poisoning often occurs when contaminated food or groundwater infected with norovirus is consumed, or through person-to-person contact with patients' feces, vomit, saliva, or contaminated hands. Therefore, strict hygiene management is essential during food preparation. Additionally, since norovirus can survive at low temperatures, raw shellfish such as oysters should be thoroughly cooked before consumption.

 

Health authorities emphasized that maintaining hygiene rules, such as washing hands with soap, is the most important measure to prevent influenza and norovirus infections. In particular, since there is no preventive vaccine for norovirus, extra care must be taken in hygiene management.

 

Director Yang Jin-sun of the Infectious Disease Control Division at the Disease Control Agency advised, "Norovirus can be transmitted not only through raw oysters but also through all foods and by carriers," adding, "Since early infection often shows no symptoms, many people are unaware they are infected while preparing food, so thorough hygiene management of utensils such as knives and cutting boards is essential."

 

On this day, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety also urged caution regarding norovirus food poisoning in childcare facilities such as nurseries, emphasizing that "norovirus particles are small and strongly adhere to surfaces, so hands, including fingers and the back of the hands, should be thoroughly washed with soap or other cleansing agents under running water for at least 30 seconds."

 

In addition, untreated groundwater must be boiled before use, and if there are indications such as "for cooking" on raw shellfish products like raw oysters, they must be thoroughly heated to a core temperature of 85°C and kept at that temperature for at least 1 minute before consumption.

 

The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency has been conducting the national influenza vaccination for the 2024-2025 season since September to prepare for the flu outbreak. Vaccinations are available until April 30 of next year.

 

Children aged 6 months to 13 years (born between January 1, 2011, and August 31, 2024), pregnant women, and seniors aged 65 and older (born before December 31, 1959) who are at high risk of severe influenza infection can receive vaccination free of charge.

Reporter Jo Yu-ri (ur1@news1.kr)