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South Korea: KDCA Forecasts Largest Flu Epidemic in Decade, Cases Triple 2024 Totals

Commonground

Senior Moderator
KDCA Forecasts Largest Flu Epidemic in Decade, Cases Triple 2024 Totals

Written: 2025-11-03 14:21:28/ Updated: 2025-11-03 15:22:08​

With influenza patients around the country now more than triple last year's numbers, health authorities are bracing for a seasonal epidemic comparable to the worst ones seen in the past decade.

According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency(KDCA),13-point-six out of every one-thousand outpatients between October 19 and 25 were suspected flu cases, three and a half times more than three-point-nine recorded during the same period of last year.

The viral detection rate during the period reached eleven-point-six percent, up four-point-three percentage points from a week earlier.

Ninety-eight influenza patients were hospitalized at 221 medical facilities, compared to 13 counted a year ago.

The KDCA projected that this year's flu outbreak would reach decade-high levels seen a year earlier and last longer, given higher case numbers reported in October and the current Southern Hemisphere epidemic.

Authorities advised seniors aged 65 and older, expectant mothers and children aged 6 months to 13 years to get vaccinated free of charge under the national vaccination program.​

https://world.kbs.co.kr/service/news_view.htm?lang=e&Seq_Code=197106
 
Flu Cases Surge 3.5-Fold, Decade's Worst Feared

​Influenza-like illness rates double; hospitalizations surge 6.5-fold, urging vaccinations
Published 2025.11.03. 16:43Updated 2025.11.03.​

Excerpt:

According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) on the 3rd, the number of influenza-like illness (ILI) patients during the third week of October this year (October 19–25) was recorded at 13.6 per 1,000 outpatient visits. ILI refers to suspected flu patients with a high fever of 38 degrees Celsius or higher, accompanied by cough and sore throat. Just the previous week (October 12–18), the figure was 7.9, nearly doubling. Compared to the same period last year (3.9 per 1,000), this marks a 3.5-fold increase. The number of hospitalizations due to the flu also reached 98, 6.5 times higher than the same period last year (13). The flu is not only widespread in South Korea but also in countries such as Japan, Hong Kong, Thailand, and China.​

https://www.chosun.com/english/national-en/2025/11/03/YSLSEGUIYZEW3DKLR7J5VBWZI4/
 
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