An unprecedented whooping cough epidemic is spreading throughout Australia, alarming health authorities who are grappling to contain soaring infection rates following the death of a two-month-old baby.
There were nearly 42,000 cases of the highly-infectious disease recorded in 2024 up to November 8, according to the National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System.
The baby died in Queensland where at least 12,500 infections have been recorded in 2024, up from 549 cases at the same time last year.
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The youngest are the most at risk and children aged younger than 15 make up 60 per cent of all 2024 cases.
“This epidemic is the worst year for whooping cough in Queensland on record,” Chief Health Officer John Gerrard told AAP.
“The surge in cases we’ve seen since February this year is continuing unabated … if anything, it’s getting worse.”
The epidemic is driven by a combination of factors including the natural disease cycle of the deadly cough peaking every three to five years, along with immune deficiency drive by isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The most concerning factor, though, is dropping vaccination rates.
According to Queensland Health data, 70.7 per cent of pregnant women were vaccinated for the cough in 2023, down from 77.2 per cent in 2020.
“We want maternal vaccination rates about 90 per cent … this decline is deeply concerning,” Dr Gerrard said.
“People may not realise this epidemic is still ongoing.
“It’s vital that mothers are informed so they can make the best decisions to protect their children.”
Whopping cough can be life-threatening for babies and young children.
Babies 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.
Thirty-seven babies younger than six months old have been admitted to Queensland hospitals this year, compared to 14 in 2023.
Maternal vaccination during pregnancy protects both mother and baby, reducing the risk of infection for newborns by 75 per cent, until they can be immunised at six weeks.
Vaccination rates among pregnant women across regional Queensland have dipped below 65 per cent in several areas.
The rates also declined among one and two year olds, dropping by about four per cent between December 2018 and September 2024.
‘Doing the least we’ve done to prevent the transmission.’
Whopping cough vaccinations are recommended as part of a five-dose schedule for young children, with boosters for adolescents and adults every five to 10 years.
Additional vaccines are available for people over 65 and who are at higher risk of severe illness.
The low vaccination rates mirror global trends and officials worldwide are re-evaluating their communication around vaccinations,
“The mantra in public health now is we should focus on informing rather than persuading,” Dr Gerrard said.
Paul Griffin, director of infectious disease at Queensland’s Mater Hospital, said 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 told ABC radio.
“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.”