So far in 2024 there have been more than of whooping cough (pertussis) across Australia. This is well above our usual national average. It's already six times more cases than we saw in all of 2023.
News headlines in multiple states have warned of whooping cough outbreaks over recent weeks and months. Most recently, has reported a surge, highest in the state's south-west. Young infants are at the greatest risk of severe disease and death as whooping cough numbers continue to climb.
So why has it been such a big year for whooping cough? And how can we prevent this dangerous disease spreading further? First, what is whooping cough? Whooping cough is that affects the lungs and airways. It's caused by the bacterium . Like other respiratory infections, it passes easily from person to person via coughing, sneezing or talking.
Adults and children can get sick with whooping cough and suffer prolonged periods of coughing that may last weeks or months. In infants, the cough is characterized by a "whoop" sound when they breathe in, and they may vomit after coughing. In some cases, there may be no cough at all, and babies under one year can experience or turn blue.
Babies younger than six months are particularly vulnerable to whooping cough as they're not yet fully immunized. Infants under four months have the . Around hospitalized children under one may die from the infection.
Why are cases surging this year? Along with other , including viral infections such as influenza and bacterial i.