Recently, the Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection, a respiratory infectious disease, has been prevalent in Korea, mainly among children and adolescents. Accordingly, the quarantine authorities held a meeting and responded. The Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention held an expert advisory meeting at the emergency situation center of the Cheongju Disease Control and Prevention in North Chungcheong Province on December 6 to discuss the current status of the Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection in Korea and its response plan.

Ji Young-mi, head of the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said, "The number of patients with Mycoplasma pneumonia has been on the rise since September (last) in Korea," adding that due to the COVID-19 outbreak, immunity against other respiratory infectious diseases has weakened, so preparations for an increase in patients are needed. However, Ji said, "There is no need to have excessive fear because the fatality rate is low and it is a common pneumonia with a known treatment."

However, voices in the medical community are different again. As the possibility of double infection with the flu increases, the medical community is urging people to take extra caution, saying that if it leads to serious illness, it could cause fatal consequences. As concerns over the spread of pneumonia have grown following the flu, more and more citizens are wearing face masks. The photo shows citizens wearing face masks on Dec. 7 at a subway station in Seoul.

Source: Current Affairs Journal (http://www.sisajournal.com )

Source: Current Affairs Journal (http://www.sisajournal.com )