Whooping cough makes record-breaking outbreak in 2024—are you at risk?

As we navigate the ever-changing landscape of public health, it's crucial to stay informed about the risks that can affect our well-being.

This year, Australia has been hit by a health crisis that's ringing alarm bells across the nation.

We're talking about the largest whooping cough epidemic since the introduction of vaccines, and it's a situation that demands our attention.



Whooping cough, also known as pertussis, is a highly contagious respiratory infection that can cause severe coughing fits.

It's particularly dangerous for infants, children, pregnant women, and seniors. The cough is followed by a 'whooping' sound when the person breathes in, hence the name.

But it's no trivial matter; whooping cough can lead to serious complications and, in some cases, can be fatal.


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Whooping cough cases in 2024 have surpassed the previous record of the highest number of cases in Australia. Credit: Freepik


Now, let's delve into the numbers that have experts concerned. More than 41,000 cases of whooping cough have been recorded since the start of the year, surpassing the previous record set in 2011.

With the year not yet over, researchers are warning that despite advancements in protection, whooping cough remains a significant ‘public health threat in Australia’.

Dr Laurence Luu, a Research Fellow and Lecturer at the University of Technology Sydney, expressed surprise at the scale of the outbreak, which is the largest since national notifiable reporting began.

‘Epidemics of whooping cough follow a fairly predictable pattern, so we did predict a rise in cases this year,’ Dr Luu said.

‘However, we had not anticipated the magnitude of this outbreak, the largest since national notifiable reporting began.’

‘Given the significant rise in whooping cough cases, current vaccination rates are a major concern.’



The Immunisation Foundation of Australia's research indicates that one in four adolescents missed their whooping cough booster at age 13 in 2023, and only one in five people over 50 are up-to-date with their vaccinations.

The Foundation recommended that adults receive a booster shot at least every 10 years to maintain protection against whooping cough, which is more contagious than influenza, COVID, and measles.

Symptoms of whooping cough may not appear immediately, often taking a week or two to manifest after infection.

Alarmingly, one infected person can potentially spread it to 17 unvaccinated individuals.

With November historically being the worst month for whooping cough and with Spring and Summer often seeing a spike in cases, there's no room for complacency.



Catherine Hughes AM, founder of the Immunisation Foundation of Australia, has a personal and tragic connection to whooping cough.

Her four-week-old son Riley succumbed to complications from the infection. She urged people to be vigilant for signs of infection and to understand the importance of booster vaccines.

‘Many people are unaware of the necessity for a booster vaccine and are probably not adequately protected,’ she said.

‘We all have a role to play in controlling the spread of whooping cough and reducing the risk of infection in ourselves and others. It takes community effort to protect against whooping cough.’
Key Takeaways
  • Australia is currently experiencing its largest whooping cough epidemic since the introduction of vaccines, with over 41,000 cases reported this year.
  • The Immunisation Foundation of Australia highlighted that one in four adolescents missed their booster at age 13, and only one in five people over 50 are up-to-date with vaccinations.
  • Experts recommend that adults receive a whooping cough booster shot every 10 years to maintain protection against the highly contagious disease.
  • The Immunisation Foundation is calling on the community to be vigilant about vaccination boosters and to be aware of the symptoms to help control the spread of whooping cough.
Have you or someone you know been affected by whooping cough? How are you ensuring you stay protected? Share your thoughts and experiences with us in the comments below.
 
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I would have thought it would be free, but I'm not really sure. If it's not then it should be.

We have our anti vaccination friends to thank for the rise of these infections which were almost eradicated before they started their uneducated crap.
Well if you’re vaxed beyond recognition, then I don’t need to be , and it’s a proven fact that vaxed are spreading anything communicable !
Try and prove me wrong !!
Remember having to have a least 3 jabs before being able to go on a cruise ship ? No unvaxed on the ship, and everyone was sick onboard all these cruise boats !! FACT
 
I would have thought it would be free, but I'm not really sure. If it's not then it should be.

We have our anti vaccination friends to thank for the rise of these infections which were almost eradicated before they started their uneducated crap.
Oh right. Blame the, anti vaxxers' again... How about blame the unelected Elites who pushed the experimental "jab" which cause too many deaths and too many Vax injuries. Uneducated crap?? Try telling that to people who lost loved ones to the Vax and to the ones who were left to look after their injured realtives. My mother used to say " if you tell a lie often enough, it becomes the truth.. Never a truer word spoken. We were 'brow beaten' with the "truth" on a daily basis for two years. Now that's crap...
 
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Well if you’re vaxed beyond recognition, then I don’t need to be , and it’s a proven fact that vaxed are spreading anything communicable !
Try and prove me wrong !!
Remember having to have a least 3 jabs before being able to go on a cruise ship ? No unvaxed on the ship, and everyone was sick onboard all these cruise boats !! FACT
Exactly And they wonder why people won't take any more of their rubbish..
 
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Well if you’re vaxed beyond recognition, then I don’t need to be , and it’s a proven fact that vaxed are spreading anything communicable !
Try and prove me wrong !!
Remember having to have a least 3 jabs before being able to go on a cruise ship ? No unvaxed on the ship, and everyone was sick onboard all these cruise boats !! FACT
People were sick and dying on these cruise ships well before the vaccines, and then they were let into the country.
You're more than welcome to be unvaxed if you wish.
Pop your head back in the sand, and give it a rest.
 
Oh right. Blame the, anti vaxxers' again... How about blame the unelected Elites who pushed the experimental "jab" which cause too many deaths and too many Vax injuries. Uneducated crap?? Try telling that to people who lost loved ones to the Vax and to the ones who were left to look after their injured realtives. My mother used to say " if you tell a lie often enough, it becomes the truth.. Never a truer word spoken. We were 'brow beaten' with the "truth" on a daily basis for two years. Now that's crap...
Whatever, believe what you like.
You're stuck in COVID land
People have been vaccinated against whooping cough (which is what this article is about)) since I was at school.
It was hardly heard of until you crazy loons raised your heads and decided it caused autism,etc and now here we are again with these things coming back.
Where did you get your degree on this subject that makes you so knowledgeable.
I prefer to take my advice from people who actually know what they're talking about.
 
and next we will have ducks disease where all these morons will be scraping their butts on the ground
 
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Very interesting how it appears in November.
According to Health authorities we had the worst outbreak on record last November (2023).
#52 on my “We are doomed” scaremongering list.
Happy to post it again with all the new additions if anyone is interested!
YES please
 
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Take a quick trip over to the Australia Bureau of Statistics and have look at how many people really die each year from this 'deadly' disease called whooping cough.

You'll be shocked.

Here are the actual figures, without the media hype:

2006 - 3 deaths no data

2007 - 0 deaths 5379 cases

2008 - 2 deaths 14435 cases

2009 - 3 deaths 29545 cases

2010 - 4 deaths 34285 cases

2011 - 3 deaths 38040 cases

2012 - 3 deaths 23885 cases

2013 - 2 deaths 12318 cases

2014 - 4 deaths 11842 cases

2015 - 3 deaths 22508 cases

Now do the maths. There are currently 24.3 million people in Australia. What is your child's risk of dying of whooping cough? Oh, you didn't need to do the maths - you could immediately see it was extremely remote.

Now calculate the chance of dying if your child actually gets whooping cough.. the .000 of a percent is one hell of a scary figure isn’t it? Fear sells vaccines, common sense and basic maths prove without a doubt that vaccines are nothing but poison sold by fear to the ignorant

Now, for argument's sake, I'm even going to allow you to claim that the rates are so low because of vaccination. (I'm too exhausted to fight.) If that's what you believe, vaccinate your children. I have no issue with that.

But I have a question for you:

Assuming the vaccine works, (which is contentious, to say the least) how many additional lives will be saved by forcing the 1% of conscientious objectors to vaccinate their children?

Do the maths. Oh, don't need to - you can immediately see that IT'S NOT EVEN ONE!

Now remember that the next time the media tries to whip you into a frenzied hatred of people who don't vaccinate.

Source: Table 1.2 Underlying cause of death, All causes, Australia, 2006–2015
 
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Very interesting how it appears in November.
According to Health authorities we had the worst outbreak on record last November (2023).
#52 on my “We are doomed” scaremongering list.
Happy to post it again with all the new additions if anyone is interested!
YES please
 
  • Like
Reactions: Kitterly
Take a quick trip over to the Australia Bureau of Statistics and have look at how many people really die each year from this 'deadly' disease called whooping cough.

You'll be shocked.

Here are the actual figures, without the media hype:

2006 - 3 deaths no data

2007 - 0 deaths 5379 cases

2008 - 2 deaths 14435 cases

2009 - 3 deaths 29545 cases

2010 - 4 deaths 34285 cases

2011 - 3 deaths 38040 cases

2012 - 3 deaths 23885 cases

2013 - 2 deaths 12318 cases

2014 - 4 deaths 11842 cases

2015 - 3 deaths 22508 cases

Now do the maths. There are currently 24.3 million people in Australia. What is your child's risk of dying of whooping cough? Oh, you didn't need to do the maths - you could immediately see it was extremely remote.

Now calculate the chance of dying if your child actually gets whooping cough.. the .000 of a percent is one hell of a scary figure isn’t it? Fear sells vaccines, common sense and basic maths prove without a doubt that vaccines are nothing but poison sold by fear to the ignorant

Now, for argument's sake, I'm even going to allow you to claim that the rates are so low because of vaccination. (I'm too exhausted to fight.) If that's what you believe, vaccinate your children. I have no issue with that.

But I have a question for you:

Assuming the vaccine works, (which is contentious, to say the least) how many additional lives will be saved by forcing the 1% of conscientious objectors to vaccinate their children?

Do the maths. Oh, don't need to - you can immediately see that IT'S NOT EVEN ONE!

Now remember that the next time the media tries to whip you into a frenzied hatred of people who don't vaccinate.

Source: Table 1.2 Underlying cause of death, All causes, Australia, 2006–2015
Oh my .. have you ever seen a little baby with whooping cough in hospital? If you did, you wouldn't be so disparaging. Your post question reminds me of when the tobacco companies rolled out 'fake experts' to create doubt that smoking causes cancer.
Anyway, if you don't want the whooping cough vaccine, then that's your decision.
 
At the end of August 2024, I developed whooping cough. I was very ill for 2 weeks and on 2 lots of antibiotics. I struggled just to stand up. After the worst of the coughing subsided, I was left weak and lethargic for the following 2 months. It is only about a week now that I have felt like I am finally over it. I had no idea how prevalent this illness is. Please consider vaccination.
So that means you have immunity to whooping cough.
The more members of the herd (community), who were exposed to an infectious disease and developed natural immunity to it the less of a threat that disease posed to the entire herd (community).

This same concept does not work in a highly vaccinated population for one simple reason: Vaccination stimulates an artificial, temporary immunity that does not last as long as naturally acquired immunity. Sometimes vaccination does not prevent infection at all but allows infection with few or no symptoms in the vaccinated person, who is still able to transmit the infection to others, which is the case with B. pertussis (whooping cough). [2] At best, it may stave off infections in some vaccinated people for a limited period of time.

Consequently, a vaccinated herd is never really protected. There is an illusion of protection in such a scenario because those who have been vaccinated remain vulnerable to infection and, thus, so does the herd—vaccinated and unvaccinated alike.
by Marco Cáceres
The Vaccine Reaction
 
Oh my .. have you ever seen a little baby with whooping cough in hospital? If you did, you wouldn't be so disparaging. Your post question reminds me of when the tobacco companies rolled out 'fake experts' to create doubt that smoking causes cancer.
Anyway, if you don't want the whooping cough vaccine, then that's your decision.
so are you saying the Australia Bureau of Statistics are incorrect but the MSM is telling the truth with the fear tactics once again? I thought most people were awake now that the conspiracy theories from 2020 - 2023 had been proven correct.
 
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Very interesting how it appears in November.
According to Health authorities we had the worst outbreak on record last November (2023).
#52 on my “We are doomed” scaremongering list.
Happy to post it again with all the new additions if anyone is interested!
Very interesting how it appears in November.
According to Health authorities we had the worst outbreak on record last November (2023).
#52 on my “We are doomed” scaremongering list.
Happy to post it again with all the new additions if anyone is interested!
YES please
 
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Reactions: Kitterly

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