The Seoul city government is advising citizens to get vaccinated against the influenza virus and to wear masks in the wake of a rapid increase in the number of flu patients among school-aged children.

Based on the results of sample monitoring, 50-point-seven out of every one-thousand people had contracted the virus as of the first week of November, as compared with 22-point-eight per thousand the previous week.

During the same period last year, the number stood at only four out of every one-thousand people.

While all age groups observed a sharp increase in infection rates, the trend was more prevalent among children — 138-point-one out of every one-thousand for children aged seven to 12, and 82-point-one per thousand among those aged one to six.

The city government advised the public to get vaccinated to reduce the risk of infection and to mitigate serious symptoms, in addition to wearing masks and washing hands regularly.