Whooping cough returns: South Korea sees first infant death
In South Korea, a two-month-old infant has died from whooping cough, marking the first such case in over a decade. The number of cases of this disease has skyrocketed, surpassing 30,000 by early November.
1:56 PM EST, November 12, 2024
The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) reported that the infant was diagnosed at the end of October and passed away last week after the symptoms worsened.
This is the first recorded death due to whooping cough in South Korea since the KDCA began collecting data in 2011.
Whooping cough, also known as pertussis or the "100-day cough," is a bacterial infectious disease affecting the respiratory system, transmitted via airborne droplets. It is characterized by episodes of dry, choking coughs, which can be particularly dangerous for infants and children.
Incidence of whooping cough increasing rapidly
This year's increase in whooping cough cases is a global trend. In South Korea, as of the first week of November, 30,332 cases had been reported, more than a 100-fold increase compared to 292 cases in the entire previous year. Over 87% of new infections in the past four weeks have occurred in individuals aged 7 to 19.
In South Korea, vaccinations against whooping cough are recommended; however, the deceased infant could not be vaccinated before the first symptoms appeared. Experts are urging increased awareness about prevention and the necessity of vaccinations, especially for children and adolescents.
