Big surge in whooping cough cases triggers concern

Authorities are grappling with a significant surge in Queensland whooping cough cases, as vaccination rates in pregnant women drop. Around 12,500 infections were reported in 2024, up from 549 cases at the same time last year according to Queensland Health. Children under 15 make up 60 per cent of all cases this year to September. "Vaccination rates are lower than they should be," Director of Infectious Diseases at Mater Hospital Dr Paul Griffin told ABC radio. "As a result, we are seeing those case numbers at record levels." According to Queensland Health data, only 70.7 per cent of pregnant women were vaccinated for the cough in 2023, down from 77.2 per cent in 2020. Whopping cough can be life-threatening for babies and young children. Infants in particular can be vulnerable to severe complications like pneumonia, seizures and brain damage caused by prolonged coughing fits. The disease is primarily spread through respiratory droplets or direct contact with infected people, "if you've seen someone with that cough, it's just terrible to witness," Dr Griffin said. Thirty-seven babies under six months old have been admitted to Queensland hospitals this year, compared to 14 in 2023. Dr Griffin highlighted the importance of maternal vaccination rates during pregnancy, which protect both mum and baby, reducing the risk of infection for newborns by 75 per cent, until they can be immunised at six weeks. Regional vaccination rates among pregnant women were below 65 per cent in several areas including Darling Downs, West Moreton, Torres and Cape and Metro North. Vaccination rates were also shown to decline among one and two year olds dropping around 4 per cent between December 2018 and September 2024. Whopping cough vaccinations are recommended as part of a five-dose schedule for young children, with boosters for adolescents and adults every five to ten years. Additional vaccines are available for people over 65 and who are at higher risk of severe illness. Dr Griffin also highlighted a reduction in public vigilance to prevent illness was a contributing factor. "We're doing the least we've done to prevent the transmission of infectious diseases in years," he said. "If you have symptoms, get tested and isolate until those symptoms settle down ... We didn't see much whopping cough when we were doing those things really well."