Pertussis – the increasing incidence in post-pandemic period

In the post-pandemic period, especially in the early part of 2024, there has been an increase in cases of pertussis (a glo­bal­ly endemic-epidemic infectious disease) in several coun­tries worldwide. Countries from the European Union and the European Economic Area (EU/EEA) as well as the Uni­ted States of America have reported a rise in whooping cough cases compared to the pre-pandemic period. A par­ti­cu­lar­ly significant increase has been recorded in China, where in January 2024 there were 15 times more cases than du­ring the same period of the previous year. The lack of im­mune stimulation during the COVID-19 pandemic can be ex­plained by social distancing measures and the reduced cir­cu­la­tion of Bordetella pertussis, the causative agent of per­tussis, as well as by the low vaccination rates during this period, which may have led to increased population sus­cep­ti­bi­li­ty. The most affected age group, with the highest risk of severe disease and a high mortality rate, is represented by infants under 6 months old. These infants either had no protection (they didn’t receive antibodies from an un­vac­ci­na­ted mother), or had a low protection (they were partially im­mu­nized or they received maternal antibodies). A series of measures are necessary to reduce the incidence of whoo­ping cough, an important objective being represented by the vaccination of pregnant women against pertussis, as well as the vaccination of close contacts, to protect infants under 3 months old.