Whooping Cough Cases Revert to Pre-Pandemic Highs
September 4, 2024
• Up to 40,000 cases are reported annually in the US, with a small number leading to death.
• 24 million cases and 160,000 deaths are estimated to occur globally.
• 1% of cases in unvaccinated infants and young children result in death.
• Pertussis disease events apper to be cyclical, occurring every 3-5 years, likely due to waning immunity.
Because the pertussis bacteria is transmitted person to person:
1. Practice good hand hygiene through handwashing and/or use of a hand sanitizer.
2. Prectice respiratory hygiene, covering coughs and sneezes and properly disposing of tissues. 3. Keep infected persons isolated from others as much as possible, following medical advice.
(Casual contacts may be at a lower risk of infection.)
4. Antibiotics may provide some relief early in the infection, ideally before coughing fits start.
5. Preventive antibiotics can be given to susceptible people (e.g., infants) who might be exposed to ill individuals, such as within a household.
6. A vaccine with several booster doses is available for adults, children, and infants as young as 2 months.