Australia is facing its worst whooping cough outbreak on record, with a staggering 41,000 cases reported this year — and the numbers are expected to surpass 45,000 by the end of 2024. The Immunisation Foundation of Australia (IFA) has released a 2024 Whooping Cough Report Card, revealing that New South Wales and Queensland have been hardest hit, with children aged 10-14 particularly affected. The rise has sparked urgent calls for Aussies to stay on top of their vaccinations.
The timing of this report aligns with Whooping Cough Day on November 8. This day acts as a reminder to everyone to keep a lookout for symptoms of this highly contagious illness, also known as “the 100-day cough.”
For those unfamiliar, whooping cough (or pertussis) is a severe bacterial infection that targets the airways, causing uncontrollable coughing fits. These can lead to everything from broken ribs to hospitalisations. It can affect people of all ages but is a particular risk to newborns and premature infants.
Dr Laurence Luu, a research fellow and lecturer at UTS, explains that while experts did predict a rise in cases, the extent of the outbreak has shocked the medical community. One of the key concerns, he says, is the drop in vaccination rates among adolescents and adults. “While we do an incredible job protecting babies, re-vaccination rates for older kids and adults are much too low.”
He continued that whooping cough is more contagious than influenza, measles or COVID-19,4 “which means it can spread like wildfire”.
For Catherine Hughes AM, founder of the IFA, the issue hits close to home. During a previous epidemic, her four-week-old son Riley passed away from complications of whooping cough. She urges Australians to take action, reminding us that while vaccines offer good protection, immunity fades over time.
So, what can you do? Make sure your vaccinations are up to date, consider a booster shot if it’s been a while, and if you’re struggling with a new cough, don’t ignore it. With a community effort, we can all help protect those we love from this painful and potentially deadly disease.
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