South Korea raised its epidemic alert to "red" for the H1N1 influenza virus on Tuesday the 3rd… but stopped short of rolling out any new programs to fight the disease… that has killed 42 in the country.

[Park Ha-jeong, Assistant Minister for Healthcare Policy]:
"As of November 3rd, we have decided to raise the epidemic alert level for H1N1 to its highest level - red, from orange alert status."

The health ministry says ordinary citizens have no reason to be alarmed. It has started a vaccination program and has stockpiled medicine.

[Park Ha-jeong, Assistant Minister for Healthcare Policy]:
"We're not considering taking extra countermeasures of social quarantine due to this decision."

Last week, there were about 8,900 new cases of H1N1 flu reported every day in the country. That’s about double from the week before.

Nearly 400 schools across the country have closed voluntarily due to outbreaks that are mostly infecting young adults and children.

Seoul residents said they are worried about the flu.

[Nam Hyun-ok, Seoul Resident]:
"I'm really worried. Frankly speaking, I'm even afraid of going out. I think the most threatening thing these days is the spread of the H1N1 flu virus. That's what makes me really worried."

Shin Won-sik's child was infected with the H1N1 virus.

[Shin Won-sik, Child Infected with H1N1]:
"I'm very worried since my daughter is infected. So far, I thought the flu cases were none of my business, but my child is sick because of the virus."

A major concern for parents and health officials are next week's national college entrance exams. Tens of thousands of teens across the country gather to take a test that many believe determines the course of the rest of their lives.