Pertussis outbreaks are rising across Europe; vaccination and booster uptake remain key to control.
[This is an automatically generated summary, for reference only]
Pertussis, also known as whooping cough, is a highly contagious bacterial disease characterized by severe coughing fits and can affect all age groups despite being often associated with children. While vaccination has been available for decades, recent outbreaks have occurred across Europe, including Hungary, Bulgaria, Greece, the Netherlands, and Spain. In some countries, there has been a significant increase in cases compared to previous years. Potential causes for these increases include cyclical nature of the disease, the lifting of pandemic restrictions, declining vaccination rates, and missed booster shots. Vaccination is crucial; while older vaccines had side effects that led to reduced uptake, modern acellular vaccines are used now, though they require boosters as immunity wanes. In Hungary, despite a low current incidence, experts advise unvaccinated infants to be protected by ensuring adults in the household, including expectant mothers, are vaccinated. Furthermore, there is concern about a resurgence of other childhood infectious diseases alongside pertussis, possibly linked to reduced prior immunity from pandemic restrictions.
