Cheonan City Issues Flu Prevalence Warning… Encourage Vaccination and Follow Prevention Guidelines

The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency issued an ‘Influenza (Flu) Pandemic Warning’ nationwide as of midnight on December 20. This measure was taken because the number of influenza patients exceeded the epidemic standard, increasing the possibility of spread. Cheonan City also began to encourage vaccination and publicize prevention guidelines to protect the health of its citizens.

National influenza epidemic status

According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, the number of patients with suspected influenza symptoms per 1,000 outpatients at the hospital level collected by the 50th week of the sample surveillance agency was 13.6, which greatly exceeded the epidemic standard of 8.6. The currently circulating influenza virus is type A, which is very similar to the vaccine strain for this season, so sufficient protection can be expected through vaccination. In addition, it was confirmed that there are no mutations that affect drug resistance.

Cheonan City’s vaccination status and efforts
Cheonan City continues to encourage vaccination to prevent influenza and minimize complications. As a result of encouraging vaccination participation in various ways, such as sending text messages to citizens to inform those who have not been vaccinated, 152,754 people, or 97% of the target vaccination target of 157,446 this year, have completed vaccination.

In addition to vaccination, Cheonan City is emphasizing compliance with the following preventive measures to prevent the spread of influenza.

• Practice cough etiquette
• Proper hand washing habits
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
• Ventilate the room frequently
• If you have fever or respiratory symptoms, visit a medical institution immediately.

A request for citizens’ health
Seobuk-gu Health Center Director Lee Hyeon-gi said, “The most effective way to prepare for the influenza pandemic is vaccination,” and asked, “Citizens who have not yet been vaccinated to complete their vaccination as soon as possible.” He also emphasized, “Please thoroughly follow the infectious disease prevention guidelines and actively participate in preventing the spread of the flu.”

Cheonan City actively encourages citizens to practice preventive measures in their daily lives in addition to vaccinations, and is doing its best to prevent the spread of infectious diseases and protect citizens’ health. It is expected that we will be able to wisely overcome the flu epidemic together with citizens who have completed vaccinations.