Gyeonggi-do Sees Sharp Increase in Pertussis Cases... 90% Are Elementary, Middle, and High School Students

Incidence Status of Pertussis Patients by Age in Gyeonggi-do

Whooping cough cases are sharply increasing in Gyeonggi Province.

Gyeonggi Province warned that with the second semester approaching, whooping cough cases are nearing 5,000, with over 90% of these cases occurring among elementary, middle, and high school students.

According to an analysis of the Infectious Disease Portal by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, as of the 7th of this month, there are 16,764 whooping cough cases nationwide, with 4,988 cases in Gyeonggi Province, accounting for 29.8% of the national total. Among these, elementary, middle, and high school students number 15,084 nationwide (90.0%), with 4,499 cases (90.2%) in Gyeonggi Province.

On the 24th of last month, Gyeonggi Province analyzed the vaccination status of whooping cough patients together with experts and found that 16% had no vaccination or invalid vaccination. Considering the transmissibility of whooping cough, experts judged that the current number of cases indicates the effectiveness of the whooping cough vaccine.

Currently, the standard whooping cough vaccination is available free of charge up to the 6th dose under the national immunization program. In particular, the 6th dose for children aged 11 to 12 strongly recommends Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis) vaccination instead of Td (tetanus, diphtheria). Those without vaccination or with invalid vaccination require appropriate vaccination urgently.

However, the situation may differ for immunocompromised vulnerable groups.

Professor Kim Yoon-kyung of Korea University Ansan Hospital (Pediatrics) advised, "Infants under one year old require absolute protection as their condition can rapidly worsen due to whooping cough infection, making surveillance of infectious disease occurrence and timely vaccination crucial."

Professor Choi Won-seok of Korea University Ansan Hospital (Infectious Diseases) also stated, "Since whooping cough cases that decreased during the vacation period may increase again in the new semester, it is necessary to complete vaccination for the unvaccinated and strengthen responses at quarantine sites."