Since the beginning of the year, the State has observed a significant rise in whooping cough cases, four times more than the total number of cases reported during the whole of the previous year according to data from the agency responsible for tracking infectious diseases. A recent report by the Health Prevention Surveillance Centre (HPSC) issued on Thursday disclosed that 11 instances of pertussis, commonly known as whooping cough, were confirmed in the preceding week, bringing the total to 77 cases for the year so far, compared to 18 in the previous year.
Various elements, including anticipated epidemic peaks, vaccination rates and a decline in natural resistance amongst the general population during the Covid-19 era, are thought to be contributing to the disease’s increased prevalence. Whooping cough is an extremely contagious bacterial illness affecting the lungs and respiratory system. Children under six months of age who have not been immunized or have only been partially immunized are at the greatest risk of severe health complications.
The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) mentioned a surge of over ten times in pertussis cases in European nations between last year and April, in comparison with the same time span in 2021 and 2022. Even in nations with a high record of vaccinations, it remains a major public health issue with the ECDC noting the disease continues to create larger epidemics approximately every three to five years.
Stella Kyriakides, the EU Commissioner for Health and Food Safety, asserted the importance of vigilance due to the drastic increase in whooping cough cases across Europe. Highlighting the seriousness of the disease, especially in infants, she reinforced the importance of vaccinations as a key weapon in saving lives and halting the further spread of the disease. Andrea Ammon, the director of the ECDC, referred to the surge in cases as a “pertussis epidemic”, emphasising the critical nature of the situation, particularly in relation to young children’s lives.
“Pertussis vaccines have demonstrated their safety and efficacy, with every step taken today influencing our future well-being. It is our duty, whether as parents or public health experts, to shield the most susceptible population from the lethal effects of this malady,” she further stated.
Separately, since the onset of the current year, 20 cases of measles have been officially verified in Ireland. The most recent data, valid until May 8th, also indicates that 13 instances are presently being scrutinised for measles.
Three outbreaks of the ailment in private homes have been certified. In one particular outbreak, four cases were identified, followed by three in the second outbreak and two in the third.
[Do I need to fret about measles? An medical practitioner’s handbook to an extremely contagious disease]