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S. Korean students with flu virus reach record-high amid rapid spread

Xinhua, December 23, 2016 Adjust font size:

South Korean students infected with influenza virus reached a record high last week amid the unusually rapid spread of flu epidemic, Yonhap news agency reported on Friday.

According to data from the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC), the number of primary and secondary school students having the flu virus reached an all-time high of 153 students per 1,000 during the Dec. 11-Dec. 17 period.

It was up 42 percent from a week earlier, marking the highest since the country's flu watch system was introduced in 1997. The previous high was 115 students per 1,000 tallied between 2013 and 2014.

The total number of flu patients was 61.8 people per 1,000 last week, up 77 percent compared with the previous week.

Amid the rapid flu spread among students, the education ministry instructed schools to start winter vacation earlier than scheduled.

Some of schools nationwide reportedly stopped students from attending school to prevent the further spread of the contagious virus.

The health authorities have advised people to be vaccinated in advance and wash their hands for at least 30 seconds. Enditem