The influenza virus has been detected in Daegu for the first time this year. [Daegu city government]
The influenza virus has been detected in Daegu for the first time this year. [Daegu city government]

The influenza virus has been detected in Daegu for the first time this year.

The Daegu Institute of Health and Environment said Sunday that the first influenza virus of the 2026-2027 season was identified in the city about a month earlier than last year, urging residents to practice proper handwashing, cough etiquette and other respiratory illness prevention measures.

The A(H1N1)pdm09 strain was found Wednesday in samples taken from two 3-year-old children referred by a pediatric clinic in Buk-gu.

The A(H1N1)pdm09 strain commonly circulates in South Korea during winter.

Influenza is a respiratory illness that spreads during the colder months, causing sudden fever along with systemic symptoms such as headache, muscle pain and fatigue, as well as coughing and sore throat. It spreads between people through coughing and sneezing, and children may also experience vomiting and diarrhea.

High-risk groups — including infants and young children, pregnant women, the elderly and people with chronic illnesses — face a heightened risk of complications such as pneumonia and should take particular care to get vaccinated and follow prevention guidelines.

"Since the influenza virus has been detected earlier than usual, we urge people to get vaccinated in preparation for an early outbreak and to strictly follow respiratory illness prevention measures such as handwashing and cough etiquette," said Shin Sang-hee, director of the Daegu Institute of Health and Environment.


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