Whooping cough infections are spreading at the fastest rate in more than a decade and is particularly hitting five- to 14-year-olds, as the NSW government emphasises the importance of vaccination.
Rates of whooping cough, or pertussis, have reached 170.8 infections per 100,000 people so far this year, the highest rate since 2011, NSW Health data published on Thursday showed. With nearly five months left, there have already been more whooping cough infections in 2024 than any time since 2016.
Infections among school-aged children have spiked since the end of the school holidays, with more than 350 notifications in the week ending August 3. There was also a rise among children under five, which is concerning as the infection can be life-threatening for babies.
NSW Health Minister Ryan Park said the most effective prevention for the illness was vaccination.
“Everyone can help reduce the spread of respiratory illnesses through simple measures such as staying home if unwell and wearing a mask if you need to go out, staying up to date with recommended vaccinations and practicing good hygiene, including regular handwashing and covering your coughs and sneezes.”
Whooping cough is an extremely contagious respiratory illness caused by a bacterial infection.
NSW Health advice says a modern acellular whooping cough vaccine is effective in preventing typical whooping cough about 85 per cent of the time and prevents mild whooping cough about 75 per cent of the time.
The “primary course” of whooping cough immunisation involves four doses of whooping cough vaccine given at six weeks, four months, six months and 18 months. A slightly different vaccine is used as a booster for four-year-olds.
Coming towards the end of a winter that has proved punishing for the state’s health system, presentations of COVID-19 infections and influenza-like illnesses at emergency departments dropped in the week ending Sunday.
Influenza dropped but remained at a high level, while COVID-19 was considered at a low level of activity. Rates of respiratory syncytial virus, a potentially serious illness that can cause pneumonia in children, had also dropped.
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