▲ 사진제공=경기도청  © 브레이크뉴스 하인규 기자

(브레이크뉴스 경기동북부)하인규 기자=경기도가 2학기 개학을 앞두고 올해 백일해 환자가 5천 명에 육박하고, 이 중 초·중·고교생이 90% 이상이라며 주의를 당부했다.

경기도가 질병관리청 감염병포털을 분석한 결과 8월 7일 기준 백일해 환자는 전국 1만 6천764명, 경기도 4천988명으로 전국 대비 29.8%를 차지하고 있다. 이 가운데 초·중·고등학생은 전국 1만 5천84명(90.0%), 경기도 4천499명(90.2%)으로 확인돼 학교에서 집단생활을 하는 학령기 소아 청소년에게 취약함을 알 수 있다.

다만 백일해 환자는 29주(7월 14~20일)까지 가파르게 상승하다 방학이 시작된 30주부터 감소 추세다. 28주차 929명, 29주차 1천27명, 30주차 582명, 31주차 331명이다. 도는 백일해 주 발생층인 초·중·고등학교가 여름방학에 돌입하면서 감소한 것으로 추정하고 있다.

경기도는 올해 백일해 환자 발생 양상과 예방접종력의 상관관계 확인을 위해 지난 7월 24일 전문가와 함께 백일해 환자의 예방접종력을 분석하기도 했다. 환자 중 551명을 추출하여 분석한 결과, 접종력이 없거나 유효하지 않은 접종이 시행된 사례는 약 16%로, 백일해의 전파력(확진자 1인당 12~17명 감염시킬 수 있음)을 고려하면 현재의 환자 발생건수는 백일해 백신의 효과가 있는 것으로 전문가는 판단했다.

현재 백일해 표준접종은 6차까지 국가접종사업으로 무료 접종이 가능하며, 특히 11~12세 대상의 6차접종은 Td(파상풍, 디프테리아) 대신 Tdap(파상풍, 디프테리아, 백일해) 접종을 강하게 권고했다. 접종력이 없거나 유효한 접종이 시행되지 않은 사람은 적절한 접종이 매우 필요한 상황이다.

그러나 면역력이 약한 감염취약계층에게는 상황이 달라질 수 있다. 김윤경 교수(고려대 안산병원 소아청소년과)는 “영아는 백일해 감염으로 상태가 급격히 악화될 수 있어 보호가 절대적으로 필요하기에 1세 미만 영아의 감염병 발생 감시와 적기 접종이 중요하다”고 조언했으며, 최원석 교수(고려대 안산병원 감염내과)는 “방학 기간 감소한 백일해 환자가 새 학기에 다시 증가할 수 있는 만큼 미접종자의 접종완료와 방역현장의 대응강화가 필요하다”고 말했다.

백일해 확산 방지와 중증 이환율을 낮추기 위해 ▲생후 2, 4, 6개월 적기접종 ▲학령기 6차 미접종자는 새 학기 시작 전 반드시 Tdap(백일해가 포함된 혼합백신) 접종 완료 ▲유증상 시 검사 및 치료 완료 후 등교 ▲환자의 동거가족, 중등증 이상 천식 및 만성폐질환자 등은 예방적 항생제 복용 ▲임신부 27~36주 사이 예방접종 ▲실내에서 잦은 환기, 기침예절 준수, 손 위생, 마스크 착용 등의 예방수칙을 준수해야 한다.

하인규 기자 popupnews24@naver.com

아래는 위의 글을 구글번역이 번역한 영문의 전문이다. '구글번역'은 이해도를 높이기를 위해 노력하고 있습니다. 영문 번역에 오류가 있을 수 있음을 전제로 합니다.Below is the full English translation of the above text, translated by Google Translate. 'Google Translate' is working to improve comprehension. Please note that there may be errors in the English translation. Gyeonggi Province, whooping cough patients approaching 5,000 this year

“Beware of whooping cough resurgence ahead of the start of the school year, appropriate vaccine and treatment are important”... Elementary, middle, and high school students account for more than 90%

Whooping cough prevalence centered on school-age children and adolescents is decreasing after summer vacation, but concerns about resurgence ahead of the start of the school year

- July 28th week (929) → 29th week (1,027) → 30th week (582) → 31st week (331) : Gyeonggi

Recommended to vaccinate with Tdap instead of Td for whooping cough vaccine

High risk of severe cases in infants under 1 year old, vaccination and appropriate treatment required

Follow preventive measures to prevent the spread of whooping cough and reduce the rate of severe cases

- Reporter Ha In-gyu

(Break News Gyeonggi Northeast) Gyeonggi Province urged caution, saying that the number of whooping cough patients this year is approaching 5,000 ahead of the start of the second semester, and that more than 90% of them are elementary, middle, and high school students.

According to Gyeonggi Province's analysis of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency's Infectious Disease Portal, as of August 7, there were 16,764 pertussis patients nationwide and 4,988 in Gyeonggi Province, accounting for 29.8% of the national total. Of these, 15,084 (90.0%) were elementary, middle, and high school students nationwide and 4,499 (90.2%) in Gyeonggi Province, indicating that school-age children and adolescents who live in groups at school are vulnerable.

However, the number of pertussis patients increased sharply until the 29th week (July 14-20) and then decreased starting from the 30th week when the vacation began. There were 929 in the 28th week, 1,027 in the 29th week, 582 in the 30th week, and 331 in the 31st week. The province estimates that the decrease was due to elementary, middle, and high school students, who are the main pertussis outbreak areas, entering summer vacation.

Gyeonggi Province also analyzed the vaccination history of pertussis patients with experts on July 24 to confirm the correlation between the occurrence of pertussis patients this year and vaccination history. As a result of analyzing 551 patients, the number of cases in which there was no vaccination history or an invalid vaccination was approximately 16%. Considering the transmissibility of pertussis (one confirmed patient can infect 12-17 people), experts judged that the current number of patients is due to the effectiveness of the pertussis vaccine.

Currently, the standard pertussis vaccination is available free of charge up to the 6th dose through the national vaccination program, and in particular, the 6th dose for those aged 11-12 is strongly recommended to be Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis) instead of Td (tetanus, diphtheria). Appropriate vaccination is very necessary for those who have no vaccination history or have not received an invalid vaccination.

However, the situation may be different for vulnerable groups with weak immunity. Professor Kim Yoon-kyung (Department of Pediatrics, Ansan Hospital, Korea University) advised, “Infants can rapidly worsen due to whooping cough infection, so they absolutely need protection. Therefore, surveillance of infectious diseases and timely vaccination of infants under 1 year of age are important.” Professor Choi Won-seok (Department of Infectious Disease, Ansan Hospital, Korea University) said, “Since the number of whooping cough patients, which decreased during vacation, may increase again in the new semester, it is necessary to complete vaccination of unvaccinated individuals and strengthen the response at the quarantine site.” In order to prevent the spread of pertussis and reduce the rate of severe morbidity, ▲ get vaccinated at the right time at 2, 4, and 6 months of age ▲ those of school age who have not received the 6th vaccination must complete Tdap (a combined vaccine that includes pertussis) before the start of the new semester ▲ those with symptoms must complete testing and treatment before returning to school ▲ family members living with patients, patients with moderate or severe asthma or chronic lung disease, etc. must take preventive antibiotics ▲ pregnant women must be vaccinated between 27 and 36 weeks ▲ preventive rules such as frequent ventilation indoors, cough etiquette, hand hygiene, and wearing a mask must be followed.