Over 28,000 North Koreans contracted Influenza A in just one week last month, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) said on Thursday, suggesting the country is undergoing a “rapidly developing outbreak.”

The IFRC has issued an Emergency Plan of Action (EPoA) on the outbreak of Influenza A (H1N1), following the DPRK Ministry of Public Health (MoPH)’s announcement on January 26 that 81,640 North Koreans were suffering from the flu.

Between 17 and 23 January, there was additional 51,685 suspected cases and new 28,375 infectees, the IFRC reported.

Information handed to the World Health Organisation (WHO) by the MoPH