There have been 89 cases of whooping cough this year in the Murrumbidgee region, 12 of them recorded in October.
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Despite almost 95 per cent of infants in NSW now vaccinated against the disease, outbreaks still occur every three to four years as community immunity wanes, and recent high numbers indicate an outbreak may be on the way, according to Vicky Sheppeard, NSW Health’s director of communicable diseases.
Dr Sheppeard said that in October 2018, almost 800 people in NSW were reported to have whooping cough, the highest number since October 2016.
“Whooping cough is challenging to control at the community level, as it is a highly infectious disease and immunity against whooping cough wanes over time, regardless of whether that immunity is from having the disease or as a result of vaccination,” said Dr Sheppeard.
“This means that the number of people susceptible to whooping cough in the community builds up over time and this can cause periodic spikes or larger outbreaks of the disease.
“The aim of whooping cough control is to protect infants, who are at highest risk of severe disease or death if they contract whooping cough. Whooping cough vaccination is effective in preventing severe infection.”
A GP can test for whooping cough and prescribe antibiotics.
People suspected of whooping cough should stay home until they have completed a five-day course of antibiotics, Dr Sheppeard said.
Since NSW Health introduced free whooping cough vaccination for pregnant women in April 2015 to protect infants in the first weeks of life, there have been no infant deaths from whooping cough in NSW, compared to four deaths in the previous six years.
All pregnant women should receive a whooping cough vaccination, preferably at 28 weeks gestation in each pregnancy, Dr Sheppeard said.
