Whooping cough cases soar: Health officials urge vaccination and vigilance
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The quiet hum of concern is growing louder across South Australia as the state grapples with a significant surge in whooping cough cases, reaching a six-year peak with health officials urging the public to act.
With 492 cases reported in the state in 2024, the community is facing a health challenge that calls for increased vigilance and proactive measures.
Whooping cough, also known as pertussis, is not a relic of the past but a present and pressing health concern.
The disease, characterised by severe coughing fits that can produce a distinctive 'whoop' sound, has seen a dramatic rise not only in South Australia but across the nation.
With a staggering 25,689 cases recorded around Australia so far in 2024, according to the National Communicable Disease Surveillance Dashboard.
This highly contagious respiratory infection begins deceptively, mimicking the common cold with symptoms such as a runny nose, fever, and mild cough.
However, as the infection progresses, the cough can become extreme and exhausting, posing a serious risk, particularly to infants and young children.
South Australia's Chief Public Health Officer, Nicola Spurrier, has expressed concern, noting that the state is in the throes of a whooping cough wave.
'Week on week, the numbers keep increasing,' she stated
The last significant outbreak in the region was around 2016/2017, followed by a smaller surge in 2020, which was likely mitigated by the widespread adoption of COVID-19 precautions such as mask-wearing and social distancing.
‘Whooping cough is a serious infection, particularly when we think about our youngest and most vulnerable South Australians, and that is little tiny babies,’ Spurrier added.
‘When I have a look back for South Australia, it was about 2016/2017 when we had a very significant wave of whooping cough and then a tiny little wave in 2020,’
‘I think what happened in 2020 was because people were wearing masks and taking all the COVID precautions, it didn't really have a very big wave.’
‘We are now starting to see our numbers pick up.’
Professor Spurrier emphasised that vaccination is crucial in combating the surge, especially for vulnerable infants.
‘We are definitely in a wave at the moment, and I don't know how big that's going to get, but if you have a little baby and you want to make sure they're protected as well as you can, think about getting a whooping cough vaccine booster,’ she said.
‘It's terribly important at the moment for people that are pregnant, expecting a baby, make sure that you've had your whooping cough vaccine.’
Professor Spurrier noted that the effectiveness of the whooping cough vaccination can diminish over time, making booster shots essential.
She also emphasised that early detection and the use of antibiotics are important for effectively treating the disease.
‘If in the next couple of weeks, you get a cold, and you start to get a cough unlike a cough you've ever had before, please go to your doctor and get a PCR test, and if it's whooping cough, you can get on and get it treated,’ Spurrier continued.
‘I am concerned this year that we may be in for quite a significant wave, but what I do know is that if we use vaccine…plus if people are aware that we're having a wave and get in and get diagnosed and treated quickly, that we can dampen down the impact across our community.’
In other news, a former paramedic recommended a spoonful of honey before bedtime to help relieve a cough, especially in children.
However, it's important not to give honey to infants under 12 months because of the risk of infant botulism. You can read more about it here.
Have you or your loved ones been affected by the recent surge? What steps are you taking to stay safe? We’d love to hear your insights in the comments below.
With 492 cases reported in the state in 2024, the community is facing a health challenge that calls for increased vigilance and proactive measures.
Whooping cough, also known as pertussis, is not a relic of the past but a present and pressing health concern.
The disease, characterised by severe coughing fits that can produce a distinctive 'whoop' sound, has seen a dramatic rise not only in South Australia but across the nation.
South Australia saw a surge in whooping cough cases with 492 reported in 2024, the highest in six years. Credit: Shutterstock
With a staggering 25,689 cases recorded around Australia so far in 2024, according to the National Communicable Disease Surveillance Dashboard.
This highly contagious respiratory infection begins deceptively, mimicking the common cold with symptoms such as a runny nose, fever, and mild cough.
However, as the infection progresses, the cough can become extreme and exhausting, posing a serious risk, particularly to infants and young children.
South Australia's Chief Public Health Officer, Nicola Spurrier, has expressed concern, noting that the state is in the throes of a whooping cough wave.
'Week on week, the numbers keep increasing,' she stated
The last significant outbreak in the region was around 2016/2017, followed by a smaller surge in 2020, which was likely mitigated by the widespread adoption of COVID-19 precautions such as mask-wearing and social distancing.
‘Whooping cough is a serious infection, particularly when we think about our youngest and most vulnerable South Australians, and that is little tiny babies,’ Spurrier added.
‘When I have a look back for South Australia, it was about 2016/2017 when we had a very significant wave of whooping cough and then a tiny little wave in 2020,’
‘I think what happened in 2020 was because people were wearing masks and taking all the COVID precautions, it didn't really have a very big wave.’
‘We are now starting to see our numbers pick up.’
Professor Spurrier emphasised that vaccination is crucial in combating the surge, especially for vulnerable infants.
‘We are definitely in a wave at the moment, and I don't know how big that's going to get, but if you have a little baby and you want to make sure they're protected as well as you can, think about getting a whooping cough vaccine booster,’ she said.
‘It's terribly important at the moment for people that are pregnant, expecting a baby, make sure that you've had your whooping cough vaccine.’
Professor Spurrier noted that the effectiveness of the whooping cough vaccination can diminish over time, making booster shots essential.
She also emphasised that early detection and the use of antibiotics are important for effectively treating the disease.
‘If in the next couple of weeks, you get a cold, and you start to get a cough unlike a cough you've ever had before, please go to your doctor and get a PCR test, and if it's whooping cough, you can get on and get it treated,’ Spurrier continued.
‘I am concerned this year that we may be in for quite a significant wave, but what I do know is that if we use vaccine…plus if people are aware that we're having a wave and get in and get diagnosed and treated quickly, that we can dampen down the impact across our community.’
In other news, a former paramedic recommended a spoonful of honey before bedtime to help relieve a cough, especially in children.
However, it's important not to give honey to infants under 12 months because of the risk of infant botulism. You can read more about it here.
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