Health Experts Concerned as Whooping Cough Cases Hit Record High in NSW

Health authorities are urging Australians to ensure they are vaccinated as whooping cough cases surge across the country, with New South Wales recording its highest number of cases in over three decades. In July alone, NSW reported 2,490 whooping cough cases, the largest monthly total since records began in 1991. To put this in perspective, this is more than the total number of cases reported across Australia for the entirety of 2023.

Nationally, there have been over 19,300 cases of whooping cough so far this year, a fgure already rivalling the last epidemic year in 2016, which saw 20,117 cases—and there are still fve months left in the year.

Queensland was the frst state to experience a sharp increase in cases late last year, followed by New South Wales. Now, other states like South Australia and Western Australia are also seeing cases surpass pre-pandemic levels, with health authorities warning that the outbreak could persist for several more months.

What is Whooping Cough?

Whooping cough, or pertussis, is a highly contagious bacterial infection that initially presents with symptoms similar to a fu-like illness, including fever, cough, and fatigue. However, it can progress to severe coughing fts that may cause serious complications, especially in the elderly and young infants who have not yet been vaccinated. The infection can remain contagious for up to three weeks or until the patient completes a course of antibiotics.

What’s Driving the Severe Outbreak?

Experts suggest that the COVID-19 pandemic may have disrupted the usual cycle of whooping cough outbreaks.

Associate Professor Dr. Philip Britton from the University of Sydney believes that the pandemic’s restrictions, including school shutdowns, likely reduced the spread of the disease while also slightly lowering vaccination rates. Typically, whooping cough sweeps the country every three to fve years, but COVID-19 restrictions brought numbers to near zero in 2020 and 2021, delaying the outbreak by eight years.

Dr. Norelle Sherry, a medical microbiologist at the Doherty Institute, agrees that this “immunity debt” is contributing to the outbreak. She notes that the usual patterns of respiratory illnesses have been disrupted post-COVID, leading to simultaneous high rates of whooping cough, infuenza, RSV, and COVID-19.

The Severity of Whooping Cough

Known as the “100-day cough,” whooping cough can be a challenging illness for people of all ages, causing prolonged and severe coughing that impacts sleep and overall health. It is particularly dangerous for older adults and young infants, especially those under four weeks of age or who are premature. In these groups, the risk of death is signifcant, and the infection can lead to severe complications such as pneumonia. How to Protect Your Family

Health experts are emphasizing the importance of vaccination as the primary means of protection. The vaccination schedule includes six doses throughout childhood, with additional recommendations