"These Days, People Barely Wear Masks"... Whooping Cough Epidemic After 10 Years, Anxious Parents

Confirmed Cases Increase 14-Fold in 5 Years
Highest Since Investigation Began
"No Need to Worry Like with COVID-19"

Whooping cough, which causes severe paroxysmal coughing, is spreading widely among children and adolescents, increasing anxiety among parents with school-age and teenage children. Experts advise that while the fatality rate of whooping cough is relatively low and there is no need for excessive worry, it is important to follow preventive measures regularly.

According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA), as of the 6th, there were 6,986 whooping cough patients, a more than 14-fold increase compared to 2019 (496 cases) five years ago. This is the highest level since infection tracking began in 2018. By age group, those aged 13-19 (59.1%) and 7-12 (32.9%) accounted for the majority, with children and adolescents making up 91.9% of the total.

Children are going to school with umbrellas at an elementary school.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

Whooping cough is spreading not only in Korea but also worldwide. As of the same date, the United States reported 7,847 infections, a 3.2-fold increase compared to the same period last year. In England, UK, a total of 7,599 cases were reported by the end of May, a 2.9-fold increase compared to the previous year. A KDCA official said, "In Korea, cases have sharply increased since mid-April, with a steep rise in infections from June. The global spread is also expanding in countries like the US, Europe, and the UK, where whooping cough vaccination rates are higher than in Korea, so we are closely monitoring the situation."

Whooping cough is a respiratory disease caused by Bordetella pertussis infection, characterized by severe paroxysmal coughing, so much so that its name means "coughing that does not stop for 100 days." Epidemiological investigations show that most infected individuals this year exhibited coughing symptoms (99.4%), with severe cases also experiencing paroxysmal coughing (21.5%). The distinctive whooping sound (16.7%) was also confirmed in some cases.

Among parents with school-age and adolescent children, anxiety is growing that another serious disease might be spreading after COVID-19. Choi (40), a parent of a first grader, said, "My child had a severe cough since yesterday, so I left work early at lunchtime and took them to the hospital, where they were confirmed to have whooping cough. Since COVID-19, hardly any children wear masks at school, and they eat together, so I am scared that it might spread to everyone."

Kwon (31), a homeroom teacher at a middle school in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, said, "Recently, two students in the adjacent class were confirmed with whooping cough and are in quarantine. Lately, I have also received calls from parents asking if their child’s severe cough might be whooping cough."

Experts advise that whooping cough is not a severe disease like COVID-19, so there is no need for excessive concern. However, for high-risk groups such as those under 1 year old, over 65, pregnant women, and chronic lung disease patients, the disease can be fatal if contracted, so it is important to get vaccinated on time and avoid contact with symptomatic individuals by following preventive measures.

Masanghyuk, Chair of the Infectious Disease Countermeasures Committee at the Gyeongsangnam-do Medical Association, said, "The Bordetella pertussis strain in Korea has undergone genetic mutation, weakening its toxicity, so the fatality rate is much lower than abroad. There is no need to be overly concerned like with COVID-19. However, since it can cause problems in some high-risk groups, it is important to get vaccinated on time, wear masks in crowded places, and wash hands after going out, following regular preventive measures."