Gyeonggi-do, infectious diseases that had slowed down due to the coronavirus surge again

On the 24th, Gyeonggi Province urged residents to participate, saying that it has become important again to wash hands and practice cough etiquette to prevent the spread of infectious diseases.

According to the Gyeonggi-do Infectious Disease Control Support Team on the 24th, as of April 20 every year, the trend of infectious disease patients in Gyeonggi-do increased from 11,023 in 2019 to 7,216 in 2020, when COVID-19 became prevalent, to 4,857 in 2021. It decreased to 4,309 in 2022. Then, following 5,599 people in 2023, it recorded 7,602 people this year.

In particular, pertussis, scarlet fever, and measles, which infants are vulnerable to, have reached their highest levels over the past three years compared to the same period. Pertussis, which involves paroxysmal coughing after symptoms of mild cough and low fever, was recorded at 21 people in 2018, 1 person in 2021, 0 people in 2022, and 4 people in 2023, but was counted at 38 this year.

Scarlet fever, which causes sore throat, high fever, and body rash, has slowed down to 39 cases in 2022 and 37 cases in 2023, but is showing the same level of prevalence as previous years, with 259 cases this year. Measles, which is a combination of fever, runny nose, conjunctivitis, and erythematous spots, was around 0 to 1, excluding 58 cases in 2019 when a group outbreak occurred, but 3 cases were confirmed this year.

Whooping cough, scarlet fever, and measles are all spread through respiratory secretions and are highly contagious, so caution is required to prevent the infection from spreading. In addition, it is commonly a grade 2 infectious disease, which requires isolation of patients.

Prevention methods include practicing proper hand washing, practicing cough etiquette, regular ventilation, and visiting a medical institution for treatment when fever or respiratory symptoms appear.

Yoo Young-cheol, director of the provincial health department, said, “Whooping cough, scarlet fever, and measles are respiratory infectious diseases that can be easily spread, especially in group settings such as daycare centers and schools.” He added, “To prevent the spread of infectious diseases, we repeatedly ask you to follow the precautionary rules.” said.

[신아일보] Gyeonggi-do/Reporter Lim Soon-man

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