Health authorities have noted a sharp increase in whooping cough infections countrywide, particularly in the Western Cape, where seven infants under two-months-old have died this year after contracting the highly contagious respiratory tract infection.
Whooping cough (pertussis) is caused by a bacteria called Bordetella pertussis, and babies are particularly at risk of severe disease as they are too young to be immunised – the first pertussis immunisation dose is usually administered at six weeks, reports TimesLIVE.
The Western Cape Health Department said cases had escalated nationally since January (408 cases so far), particularly in that province, which has racked up 230 cases, most since September.
“These are laboratory-confirmed cases and probably represent only a small fraction of the true cases in the community,” the department said.
People who are not immune to the bacterium through vaccination or previous infection can get pertussis at any age. Infants and children not vaccinated or partially vaccinated are at higher risk of infection as well as those with severe disease or a weakened immune system.
The National Institute for Communicable Diseases said it had noted a steady increase in cases reported since May and a sharp increase from July.
See more from MedicalBrief archives:
Whooping cough rears its head after COVID hiatus, mainly in WCape children
WHO, Unicef flag worst decline in childhood immunisations in 30 years
Pertussis resurgence: Incomplete coverage and vaccination ‘hesitancy’
Booster vaccine during pregnancy cuts pertussis incidence in infants