Experts warn of possible 'twindemic' in S. Korea starting this fall
SEOUL, Sept. 12 (Yonhap) -- A simultaneous outbreak of COVID-19 and the seasonal influenza, dubbed a "twindemic," could hit South Korea over this fall and winter, experts warned Monday, calling for a thorough medical response system to be in place in the event of such an outbreak.
The number of patients showing possible flu symptoms came to 4.7 for every 1,000 outpatients between Aug. 28 and Sept. 3, rising steadily from 3.3 tallied four weeks earlier, according to latest data compiled by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA).
The figures for people aged under 50 ranged from 5.2 to 8.5, already surpassing the threshold of 4.9 expected for the 2022-2023 season, the data showed.
South Korea's COVID-19 cases have been falling in recent months after peaking at around 180,000 in mid-August as the latest wave of an omicron variant has been slowing down. On Monday, the country reported 36,938 new infections.
Health authorities, however, have called for people to stay vigilant, as the country is about to enter the first winter season without social distancing rules since the COVID-19 outbreak. The four-day Chuseok fall harvest holiday, which ran from last Friday, has also been cited as a potential trigger for another virus spike.
Experts raised concerns that the scenario of a COVID-19 surge coinciding with the spread of flu could cause big confusion among citizens and also result in a rapid increase of serious cases that could affect the medical system nationwide.
"If we have a twindemic, we need to be able to detect whether it's COVID-19 or not, but the antigen tests have limitations," Kim Tak, a medical professor at Soonchunhyang University Bucheon Hospital, said.
Medical experts called for the need to have thorough procedures ready to detect and treat the diseases under a twindemic situation and possibly consider introducing a polymerase reaction (PCR) test designed to detect the flu and COVID-19 at the same time.
They also urged the authorities to draw up a vaccination plan for people to be able to get the COVID-19 and flu vaccines together.
Medical workers put COVID-19 test kits on a table at a testing booth set up in a rest area near a highway in Yongin, 40 kilometers south of Seoul, on Sept. 7, 2022. (Yonhap)
elly@yna.co.kr
(END)
-
'Queen of Tears' weaves rich tapestry of Korean contemporary art -
Ateez member Yunho throws first pitch at MLB match between Dodgers, Mets -
N. Korea says Kim guided simulated nuclear counterattack drills for 1st time -
N. Korea calls envisioned U.S. aid to Ukraine 'hallucinogen' -
N. Korea calls on party propaganda officials to work harder
-
'Queen of Tears' weaves rich tapestry of Korean contemporary art -
Experts see possibility of N.K. conducting nuclear test before U.S. presidential vote -
N. Korea says Kim guided simulated nuclear counterattack drills for 1st time -
Looming weekly closure of major hospitals feared to worsen medical service crisis -
N. Korea calls envisioned U.S. aid to Ukraine 'hallucinogen'
-
Indonesia coach left with mixed feelings after eliminating native S. Korea in Olympic football qualifiers -
S. Korea eliminated in Olympic football qualifiers as poor defense, undisciplined play prove costly -
ADOR CEO calls conflict with Hybe 'worst experience of my life' -
S. Korea to acquire SM-3 shipborne missiles by 2030 -
Hybe refutes allegations raised by sublabel head in ongoing dispute
