Gyeonggi Flu Indicators Rise 30% in Three Weeks as Vaccinations Accelerate
Gyeonggi Province urged residents to receive seasonal influenza vaccinations on schedule after the regional rate of suspected cases climbed by about 30 percent in three weeks, with children aged 7 to 12 recording the highest rate.
Gyeonggi Province urged residents to receive seasonal influenza vaccinations on schedule after the number of suspected cases rose sharply during an unusually early outbreak.
The province said the rate of patients showing influenza-like illness at outpatient clinics increased from 24.2 per 1,000 patients in the 36th week of the year, covering Aug. 30 to Sept. 5, to 32.1 in the 39th week, covering Sept. 20 to 26. That represents an increase of about 30 percent in three weeks.
A suspected influenza case is defined as a patient who has a fever of at least 38 degrees Celsius together with symptoms such as coughing or a sore throat. The surveillance figures therefore track influenza-like illness rather than laboratory-confirmed infections.
School-age children recorded the highest regional rate. Among children aged 7 to 12, there were 63.8 suspected cases per 1,000 outpatient visits. The rate among people aged 65 and older was 14.8 per 1,000.
The rise in Gyeonggi mirrors a broader national trend. Across South Korea, the suspected-case rate reached 33.0 per 1,000 outpatient visits in the 39th week. That was 3.7 times the 9.0 cases recorded during the same period a year earlier.
The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency issued an influenza epidemic advisory for the 2026-2027 season on Sept. 11. With infections spreading earlier than usual, the authorities brought forward the vaccination timetable for older residents.
Free vaccinations for people aged 75 and above are due to begin on Oct. 6. The program will then expand to those aged 70 to 74 on Oct. 12 and people aged 65 to 69 on Oct. 15. Vaccinations for children between six months and 14 years old, as well as pregnant women, began on Sept. 21.
Gyeonggi health authorities asked eligible residents to follow the timetable for their age group. Yoo Young-cheol, head of the province's health bureau, said the accelerated schedule reflected the early spread of influenza.
He also urged people aged 65 and older to receive influenza and COVID-19 vaccinations together. The provincial warning places particular emphasis on timely immunization as health officials respond to case levels that are already well above those recorded at the same point last year.