Japan: young infant dies from antibiotic-resistant whooping cough

A one-month-old girl without underlying health conditions died from whooping cough at the Tokyo Metropolitan Children’s Medical Center. The sad news was revealed by the Japan Institute for Health Security (JIHS) on April 18. According to the institute, the girl was hospitalized after her respiratory condition worsened. She was diagnosed with whooping cough and later showed signs of pneumonia and was placed on a ventilator. Despite all efforts, she passed away due to respiratory and kidney failure. The girl was infected with an antibiotic-resistant strain of whooping cough. The Tokyo Metropolitan Children’s Medical Center reported several similar cases in recent months. None of these patients had a history of traveling overseas, and doctors believe they contracted the disease at home from siblings or other family members.
Japan is currently facing an alarming spike in whooping cough infections. According to the JIHS’ preliminary data, 722 disease cases were reported nationwide during the week leading up to April 6. The total number of cases this year is over 5600, well above all the cases recorded throughout last year. The JIHS is concerned about the spread of antibiotic-resistant strains in Tokyo but has stated that vaccination remains effective for protecting against the disease.