Flu epidemic intensifies, accounting for 77% of increased visits to ER

The influenza epidemic is intensifying. The number of flu cases has reached its highest level since 2016, and 77 percent of the recent increase in emergency room patients has been confirmed to be due to the flu.

Participants confirmed this reality at Thursday’s meeting of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters, which dealt with doctors’ collective action while checking the emergency medical system's response.

As of the fourth week of December (Dec. 22-28) last year, the number of influenza patients was 73.9 per 1,000 people, up more than 10 times from the first week of December. This is the highest level in eight years since 2016, indicating an intensifying influenza epidemic in Korea.

The flu epidemic has also increased the burden on emergency rooms. In the first week of January (Dec. 30-Jan. 3), the total number of emergency department visits averaged 261 patients per weekday, up 1,624 from the previous week.

“There were 3,244 ER visits with influenza, representing about 77 percent of the increase in ER visits,” the headquarters noted.

The severity of influenza among ER patients was found to be generally low. “Mild cases (KTAS 4-5) accounted for about 50 percent of ER visits,” the headquarters said. “In addition, an analysis of ER visits as of December last year showed that about 90 percent of ER patients with influenza went home after their ER visit.”

The headquarters urged patients with mild flu symptoms to visit their neighborhood clinics or fever clinic first, rather than a university hospital or community emergency care center, to avoid overcrowded situations at ERs.

It also called for active participation in vaccination and adherence to personal hygiene practices, including hand washing, coughing etiquette, and indoor ventilation. It is strongly recommended that people wear masks if they have respiratory symptoms such as fever and cough.