Influenza epidemic advisory (유행주의보) issued — from 0:00 on September 11, 2026, high-risk groups get antiviral coverage without testing
Source material is a Korean government announcement (in Korean).
The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (질병관리청) issued an influenza epidemic advisory (유행주의보) for the 2026–2027 season from 0:00 on September 11, 2026. The influenza-like illness rate is about 3.8 times higher than a year earlier, and hospitalized patients increased about 13-fold. In sentinel surveillance at clinic-level medical institutions, the influenza-like illness rate in week 36 of 2026 (August 30 – September 5) was 25.3 per 1,000 outpatients, exceeding the epidemic threshold. Over the past 4 weeks the rate rose quickly: 7.5 in week 33, 9.2 in week 34, 13.3 in week 35 and 25.3 in week 36. By age, those aged 7–12 were highest at 75.1, followed by ages 1–6 at 49.8 and ages 13–18 at 31.3. Hospitalized patients at hospital-level sentinel institutions numbered 300 in week 36, an increase of about 2 times from 166 the previous week, and people aged 65 and older accounted for 60.0%. While the advisory is in effect, high-risk groups — children, pregnant women and mothers within 2 weeks of childbirth, people aged 65 and older, immunocompromised people and people with underlying conditions — receive health insurance benefit coverage (요양급여) for antiviral drugs prescribed at a doctor's judgment, without testing. The agency plans to carry out the national influenza vaccination program sequentially by target group from September 21, 2026. Inquiries: Division of Infectious Disease Control, Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (043-719-8140).
Key facts
| Issued | From 0:00 on September 11, 2026 (2026–2027 season) |
|---|---|
| Advisory threshold | Influenza-like illness rate above 12.9 + virus detection rate of 5% or higher |
| Week 36 influenza-like illness rate | 25.3 per 1,000 outpatients (August 30 – September 5, 2026) |
| Trend | Week 33: 7.5 → week 34: 9.2 → week 35: 13.3 → week 36: 25.3 |
| Incidence by age | Ages 7–12: 75.1, ages 1–6: 49.8, ages 13–18: 31.3 |
| Hospitalized patients | 300 in week 36 (166 the previous week) — 60.0% aged 65 and older |
| Circulating virus | A(H1N1)pdm09 — similar to this season's vaccine strain; no mutation affecting antiviral resistance identified |
| Coverage for high-risk groups | Children, pregnant women and mothers within 2 weeks of childbirth, people aged 65 and older, and immunocompromised people and people with underlying conditions receive health insurance benefit coverage without testing when prescribed antiviral drugs at a doctor's judgment |
| National vaccination | Planned sequentially by target group from September 21, 2026 |
| Inquiries | Division of Infectious Disease Control, Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency 043-719-8140 |
Last checked:
The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (질병관리청) issued an influenza epidemic advisory (유행주의보) for the 2026–2027 season from 0:00 on September 11, 2026, as influenza incidence rose to a higher level than in previous years. The influenza-like illness rate is about 3.8 times higher than a year earlier, and hospitalized patients increased about 13-fold. While the advisory is in effect, high-risk groups — children, pregnant women and mothers within 2 weeks of childbirth, people aged 65 and older, immunocompromised people and people with underlying conditions — receive health insurance benefit coverage (요양급여) for antiviral drugs prescribed at a doctor's judgment, without testing.
Background — why this change
An influenza-like illness case refers to a fever of 38°C or higher accompanied by cough or sore throat. On September 8, 2026, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (질병관리청) held the 9th meeting of the interagency joint response team for respiratory infectious diseases (호흡기감염병 관계부처 합동대책반) with medical experts and related ministries, reviewed the status of and response to influenza and COVID-19, and then issued the epidemic advisory. The influenza virus detection rate rose from 5.4% in week 33 to 10.0% in week 34, 12.3% in week 35 and 16.3% in week 36. For COVID-19, hospitalized patients in week 36 numbered 193, lower than the 433 in the same period a year earlier, but have been increasing continuously since August 2026, and 65.3% of hospitalized patients were aged 65 and older. From this season, clinic-level influenza sentinel surveillance institutions are expanded from 300 to 800, raising sentinel institutions per 100,000 population from 0.6 to 1.6 and the share of si, gun and gu (시·군·구) with a designated sentinel institution from 56.3% (142) to 91.3% (230).
Summaries below are factual notes based on government announcements and primary sources — not evaluations or opinions.
FAQ
What changes when an epidemic advisory is issued?
While the advisory is in effect, high-risk groups — children, pregnant women and mothers within 2 weeks of childbirth, people aged 65 and older, immunocompromised people and people with underlying conditions — receive health insurance benefit coverage for antiviral drugs prescribed at a doctor's judgment, without testing.
When can vaccination begin?
The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency plans to carry out the national influenza vaccination program sequentially by target group from September 21, 2026. Long-term care hospitals and care facilities where older people live can vaccinate from the point vaccines are supplied, according to local epidemic conditions and regardless of the age-based vaccination schedule.
Which age groups have the most cases?
As of week 36 of 2026, the influenza-like illness rate by age was highest among those aged 7–12 at 75.1, followed by ages 1–6 at 49.8 and ages 13–18 at 31.3, showing high incidence among school-age children and infants and young children. Among hospitalized patients, people aged 65 and older made up the largest share at 60.0%.