Recent outbreaks of whooping cough have been reported in Europe, Asia, and parts of the United States, including Northern California. In the United Kingdom and Europe, the number of cases has risen dramatically, with the largest surge since 2012. In the Netherlands, there were 1,800 cases of whooping cough reported in the first two weeks of April, including 50 cases in babies who are at the highest risk. The total number of cases so far this year in the Netherlands is 5,303, including 276 babies, with nearly half of the infants being admitted to the hospital and four deaths reported. The high numbers in the Netherlands have been attributed to a declining childhood vaccination rate.
The Czech Republic has also experienced a significant increase in whooping cough cases, leading to three fatalities. There have been 7,888 cases reported in the country this year, with 1,494 new cases recorded in a single week, the fastest growth in 2024. At least 183 patients are currently hospitalized. Additionally, China has seen a surge in whooping cough cases, with over 32,000 reported in the first two months of this year compared to just 1,400 in all of 2023.
Whooping cough, or pertussis, is a highly contagious respiratory disease caused by bacteria that attach to the cilia in the upper respiratory system. The disease starts with symptoms similar to a common cold but progresses to include uncontrollable coughing fits that can lead to vomiting. Babies under three months old who are not fully immunized are at the highest risk of developing severe complications, including inflammation of the bronchial tubes and pneumonia, which can be fatal. Vaccination campaigns in the 1940s led to a significant decrease in pertussis-related deaths, but recent outbreaks have been linked to vaccine hesitancy.
Despite relatively low numbers of whooping cough cases in the United States in 2024, there have been recent clusters reported in the San Francisco area. The key to preventing the spread of this vaccine-preventable disease is to ensure that parents do not hesitate to have their children vaccinated. The CDC recommends starting the vaccine series, which also protects against diphtheria and tetanus, at two months old and continuing with four more shots at designated ages. Mass administration of vaccines has led to a decline in pertussis-related deaths globally, but recent outbreaks in Europe and Asia serve as a reminder of the importance of vaccination in preventing the resurgence of infectious diseases like whooping cough.
