The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency noted on the 6th that it will lift the warning for an outbreak of Mycoplasma pneumonia on the 7th. This comes about eight months after the outbreak warning was issued on June 24 of last year.
Mycoplasma pneumonia is an acute respiratory infection caused by infection with Mycoplasma pneumonia. In South Korea, it is classified as a level 4 infectious disease and primarily occurs among children and adolescents, with outbreaks every 3 to 4 years.
Following the outbreak of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), cases of Mycoplasma pneumonia have shown an upward trend in the country. It significantly spread last year, prompting the issuance of an outbreak warning to prevent further spread.
The number of patients hospitalized due to Mycoplasma pneumonia at 221 sample surveillance medical institutions in the country peaked at 1,179 in August of last year and has since shown a significant decline. In the first week of this year, the number decreased to 229, followed by 202 in the second week, 129 in the third week, and 113 in the fourth week, marking four consecutive weeks of hospitalization numbers falling below the outbreak threshold of 250.
The disease control agency is set to release comprehensive clinical guidelines in the first half of this year that reflect changes in the medical environment, including the widespread adoption of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing for respiratory infections, along with severity criteria for Mycoplasma pneumonia.
Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency head Ji Young-mi said, "While the outbreak warning for Mycoplasma pneumonia is being lifted, respiratory infections, including influenza, are still significantly spreading," and she urged, "Please receive vaccinations in a timely manner and adhere to preventive measures such as personal hygiene, especially as respiratory infections tend to surge every winter."