TOKYO -- The number of cases of whooping cough, an infectious disease of the respiratory tract accompanied by severe coughing, has totaled 4,100 across Japan since the beginning of this year, already exceeding the total for 2024, according to a health institute.

The Japan Institute for Health Security, which was established on April 1 through the merger of the National Institute of Infectious Diseases and other organizations, released preliminary figures on whooping cough cases on the same day that 458 patients were reported with the ailment at medical institutions nationwide in the week ending March 23.

The cumulative number of cases across Japan this year has reached 4,100, already exceeding last year's total of 4,054. By prefecture, Osaka had the most cases with 336, followed by Tokyo with 299, and Niigata with 258.

Whooping cough primarily affects children and can lead to severe complications such as pneumonia and encephalopathy, especially in infants. The Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare says that vaccinations are effective in preventing the disease.

(Japanese original by Yurika Tarumi, Lifestyle, Science & Environment News Department)