The Chinese Agency for Disease Control and Prevention recorded a sudden increase in whooping cough cases in the country.
In just the first 3 months of the year, the country reported more than 32,000 infections and 13 deaths, much higher than the same period in 2023 (1,400 cases).
“This shows the risk of the disease breaking out again,” said a CDC representative.
According to the definition of the World Health Organization (WHO), whooping cough is a highly contagious respiratory infection caused by the bacteria Bordetella pertussis. The disease, transmitted through respiratory droplets, poses a significant threat to infants, leading to severe symptoms and death.
Symptoms usually appear 7 to 10 days after infection. The initial symptoms are mild fever, runny nose and cough, progressing to prolonged coughs and occasional whistling sounds when inhaling. According to WHO, pneumonia is a common complication. Seizures and encephalopathy occur less frequently. Infection peaks within 3 weeks of cough onset, with cough episodes lasting 4 to 8 weeks.
The initial symptoms of whooping cough look a lot like the common cold (stuffy nose, mild fever, and cough). That makes it difficult to diagnose before more serious symptoms appear.
Patients wait for treatment at the pulmonary department at a hospital in Wuhan city, April. Photo: VCG
Antibiotics are currently the main treatment for whooping cough. The most effective prevention measure is vaccination. According to WHO, vaccination with three basic doses of diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis vaccines significantly reduces the risk of disease. Guidelines from the United Nations health agency recommend starting vaccination as early as 6 weeks of age. Subsequent doses are given 4-8 weeks apart, at ages 10-14 weeks and 14-18 weeks.
WHO says vaccinating pregnant women is also very effective in preventing whooping cough in newborns. National programs may consider vaccinating pregnant women with pertussis vaccine as an additional strategy.
Vaccination programs around the world have suffered during the pandemic. The proportion of children vaccinated with three doses of diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis fell to 81% in 2021, the lowest level since 2008, according to WHO. According to the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control, several countries have recorded an increase in pertussis cases since mid-2023.