Surge in whooping cough cases sees first infant death in a decade
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 surged, surpassing 30,000 cases by early November.
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 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 of the respiratory system, transmitted via airborne droplets. It is characterised 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 have 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 urge increased awareness about prevention and the necessity of vaccinations, especially among children and adolescents.
