First Domestic Pertussis Death Reported
Infant Under 1 Year Dies from Pertussis Infection
Nationwide Outbreak Continues Mainly Among Children and Adolescents
The Public Health Center of Goyang Special City, Gyeonggi Province (Mayor Lee Dong-hwan) urged high-risk groups to exercise special caution on the 15th following the first domestic death from pertussis this year.
Goyang Special City Public Health Center urged high-risk groups to exercise extra caution on the 15th following the first domestic death from whooping cough this year. Photo by Goyang Special City
According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, pertussis vaccination is necessary for pregnant women, cohabiting family members (parents, siblings, grandparents, etc.), and caregivers to protect high-risk groups, especially infants under 1 year old, who are highly susceptible to severe illness upon infection.
The first pertussis death case involved an infant under 2 months old who had not yet received the first pertussis vaccination. The infant visited a medical institution with symptoms such as coughing and phlegm, was confirmed positive for pertussis on October 31, and after hospitalization and treatment, passed away on November 4 due to worsening symptoms.
Pertussis, characterized by paroxysmal coughing, has seen a total of 30,332 reported cases nationwide (including suspected cases) as of the first week of November this year, with a nationwide outbreak centered on children and adolescents aged 7 to 19.
By age group, those aged 13 to 19 account for 45.7%, and those aged 7 to 12 account for 42.0%, meaning children and adolescents aged 7 to 19 make up 87.7% of the total cases. Children aged 0 to 6 account for 3.3% of all cases, with numbers increasing since August. Infants under 1 year old showed 2 to 4 reports per week in early October, rising to 12 reports by the end of October.
As pertussis is spreading not only domestically but globally, protection of high-risk groups with the highest likelihood of severe complications upon infection is necessary.
First, vaccination of pregnant women in their third trimester (27?36 weeks) is essential so that infants can be born with immunity to pertussis before their first vaccination at 2 months of age.
Additionally, it is very important that infants under 12 months receive timely vaccinations at 2, 4, and 6 months without fail. Other high-risk groups (immunocompromised individuals, patients with moderate or severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), caregivers such as parents of young children, healthcare workers, and postpartum care center staff should also receive the vaccine considering this year’s pertussis outbreak.
A Public Health Center official stated, “Active attention and guidance from parents and teachers are necessary so that families can prevent various respiratory infectious diseases, including pertussis, through handwashing, observing cough etiquette, and wearing masks.”
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