Korea's influenza-like illness surveillance hit another high in week 38 as toddlers and preschoolers drove fresh gains, prompting the Disease Control and Prevention Agency to watch whether Chuseok travel extended an already early 2026-2027 flu wave.
Week 38 surveillance
Among roughly 800 clinic-level reporting sites, the ILI rate reached 32.3 cases per 1,000 outpatients during the week of September 13-19, about four times the same week last year and more than double the season's epidemic threshold of 12.9. The measure counts patients with fever of 38 degrees Celsius or higher plus cough or sore throat.
Elementary pupils aged 7-12 still posted the highest rate at 77.7 per 1,000, though that cohort eased slightly from 78.6 the prior week. Children aged 1-6 registered 58.0, while ages 13-18 stood at 41.1. Infants under one year surged more than 30 percent to 35.7 per 1,000, the sharpest weekly jump among age bands.
Lab data and hospitalizations
Respiratory specimen surveillance showed a 20.7 percent influenza virus detection rate, down modestly from 24.6 percent but still dominated by A(H1N1)pdm09. Hospitalized influenza cases ticked up to 436 from 428, while hospitalized COVID-19 patients rose to 327 from 308 in the same reporting window.
Vaccination calendar still rolling
Authorities moved up parts of the national immunization schedule after declaring an epidemic advisory on September 11. Child and pregnant-woman doses began September 21, with more than 1.14 million children vaccinated by October 1. Seniors 75 and older become eligible for flu and COVID shots on October 6, with younger senior cohorts following on October 12 and 15.
Commissioner Im Seung-gwan urged high-risk groups to follow the age-based timetable as circulating strains shift year to year. Parents returning from holiday gatherings should keep febrile children home from hagwon and daycare until symptoms resolve, especially with under-six rates accelerating fastest.
Pharmacies in residential districts reported brisk sales of pediatric fever reducers ahead of the holiday, a retail signal epidemiologists treat as a leading indicator for clinic visits.
Pharmacies in residential districts reported brisk sales of pediatric fever reducers ahead of the holiday, a retail signal epidemiologists treat as a leading indicator for clinic visits.
School nurses returned from Chuseok with lists of absent pupils, data the education ministry will merge with KDCA surveillance to decide whether to extend mask guidance in elementary hallways.
Editors note that official releases, not market chatter, govern the figures cited above.