Whooping cough cases have skyrocketed in Victoria, with the state’s health department labelling the worrying increase a “public health concern”.
More than 10 times the number of cases has been recorded so far in 2024 than for the whole of last year, with children aged 9–12 accounting for nearly 40 per cent of all cases.
Whooping cough, or pertussis, is a contagious respiratory infection caused by the bacterium Bordetella pertussis.
Know the news with the 7NEWS app: Download today
Anyone can get the infection but it is most dangerous for babies younger than six months.
It starts off as a common cold before a persistent cough develops, which can then last more than 10 weeks.
Vomiting can occur after coughing.
Young babies can develop complications including apnoea (temporary stopping of breathing), pneumonia, inflammation of the brain, permanent brain damage and death.
While it is common for whooping cough cases to increase every few years, there has been a surge in cases across all states and territories.
So far this year more than 24,000 cases have been recorded in Australia according to the National Communicable Disease Surveillance Dashboard.
Just 2450 cases in total were recorded in 2023.
The majority of cases have been recorded in NSW, followed by Queensland and Victoria.
Reduced population immunity after COVID-19 may be to blame for the sharp rise, as well as outbreaks among school-aged kids this winter.
Victoria’s health department said the jump was concerning given babies cannot be immunised until they are six months old.
“Infants less than six months of age are at greatest risk of severe disease, hospitalisation, and death,” the department said.
“These infants are too young to be fully immunised. Many infants who get pertussis catch it from older children and adults who might not even know they are infected.”
Whooping cough is spread to other people by droplets from coughing or sneezing.
People are usually infectious from the start of their cold-like symptoms until 21 days after they started coughing or until they have been on antibiotics for five days.
Certain people — including pregnant women and infants, children and adolescents — can access a whooping cough vaccine for free under the National Immunisation Program.
Free catch-up vaccines are also available for eligible groups.
People who develop symptoms should quickly seek medical attention from their GP or a hospital.
An ambulance should be called if breathing difficulties are experienced or if a child’s lips start turning blue.
More information can be found on the Victorian health department’s website.