'Whooping Cough, Scarlet Fever, and Measles' Increasing Again After COVID-19 Quiet Period

The number of infectious disease patients, which had sharply declined due to the COVID-19 pandemic, has returned to pre-2020 levels.

According to the Gyeonggi-do Infectious Disease Control Support Group on the 24th, the trend of infectious disease patient occurrences in Gyeonggi-do as of April 20 each year decreased from 11,023 in 2019 to 7,216 in 2020 when COVID-19 began to spread in earnest, 4,857 in 2021, and 4,309 in 2022. However, the number slightly increased to 5,599 in 2023 and reached 7,602 this year.

In particular, pertussis, scarlet fever, and measles related to infants recorded the highest levels in the same period over the past three years. Pertussis, which shows symptoms of mild cough and low fever followed by paroxysmal coughing, was at 21 cases in 2018, then 1 case in 2021, 0 cases in 2022, and 4 cases in 2023, but this year it was counted at 38 cases.

Scarlet fever, which causes sore throat, high fever, and systemic rash, was steady at 39 cases in 2022 and 37 cases in 2023, but this year it has reached 259 cases, showing levels similar to previous outbreaks.

Incidence Status of Pertussis, Scarlet Fever, and Measles Compared to the Same Period Since the Start of COVID-19 Outbreak in Gyeonggi Province (2020)

Measles, which presents with fever, runny nose, conjunctivitis, and erythematous spots, had about 0 to 1 case except for 58 cases during a cluster outbreak in 2019, but 3 cases were confirmed this year.

Pertussis, scarlet fever, and measles all share the characteristic of being transmitted through respiratory secretions and are highly contagious, requiring caution to prevent the spread of infection.

Additionally, all three are classified as second-class infectious diseases, requiring isolation of patients. Preventive measures include practicing proper handwashing, observing cough etiquette, regular ventilation, and visiting medical institutions for diagnosis when fever or respiratory symptoms appear.

Yoo Young-cheol, Director of the Gyeonggi-do Health and Wellness Bureau, stated, "Pertussis, scarlet fever, and measles are respiratory infectious diseases that can easily spread through group settings such as daycare centers and schools," and urged, "Please adhere to preventive measures to prevent the transmission of infectious diseases."