Busan Schools See Surge in Flu Cases, raising Concerns of Widespread Winter Outbreak
Busan, South Korea - A rapid increase in influenza cases among elementary, middle, and high school students is prompting health officials to warn of a potential large-scale outbreak this winter. The recent widening temperature fluctuations – daily ranges exceeding 10 degrees Celsius – are believed to be contributing to weakened respiratory immunity and increased infection rates, coinciding with seasonal exam schedules and school events that cause fatigue.
The surge is especially concerning due to the high viral output even in cases with mild symptoms, increasing the risk of transmission within schools and to family members. “Especially in the case of elementary school students, even if their symptoms are mild, the virus output is high, so there is a high possibility that it will spread to home and school,” explained a Department of Pediatrics physician at Busan Paik Hospital, inje University College of Medicine.
Center Director Oh Moo-young advises that students experiencing symptoms should stay home from school for at least three days and prioritize rest. “Parents should not treat their children as simple colds and neglect them, but actively seek medical care,” he cautioned.Health officials also recommend that elderly individuals with compromised immune systems recieve a flu vaccine as soon as possible.
Infectious disease experts highlight the heightened risk of transmission in classroom settings compared to adult workplaces, advocating for strengthened school quarantine inspections, mandatory vaccination for school staff, and improved ventilation. The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) is collaborating with provincial and local education offices to disseminate vaccination encouragement texts, provide schools with prevention education, and implement rapid response protocols for group outbreaks.
“Given the current trend,we are concerned about a large-scale outbreak this winter,” stated lim seung-kwan,Director of the KDCA,emphasizing the need to establish a “culture of ‘resting when sick'” both at school and at home.
