Pertussis (whooping cough) outbreak - update December 2012
As of 7th December, 444 whooping cough notifications were made to the HPSC in 2012. This compares to a total of 217 for the same time period in 2011. Young babies continue to be most at risk of severe disease and hospitalisation, 32% of all notifications have occurred among babies less than 6 months of age.
In response to the ongoing outbreak the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC) have recently issued new guidance to GPs relating to the immunisation of pregnant women and close contacts of preterm babies.
Pregnant women should be offered Tdap vaccine between 28-32 weeks of pregnancy to enable protection of the very young baby via the transfer of maternal antibodies.
Close family adult contacts of babies born before 32 weeks are also recommended vaccination if not vaccinated. Siblings of these babies should be age appropriately vaccinated.
Health care workers in contact with infants, pregnant women and immunocompromised individuals are recommended a booster dose if they have not received a booster in the past 10 years.
For more information on pertussis vaccination please click here.
Pertussis (whooping cough) outbreak - update October 2012
The number of pertussis (also known as whooping cough) cases continues to rise.
As of 25th October 398 whooping cough notifications were made to the HPSC. This compares to a total of 229 in 2011.
Of the 398 notifications made to HPSC in 2012; 244 (61%) notifications are laboratory confirmed; 125 (31%) cases were hospitalised; two pertussis related deaths have been reported in babies this year. The age group most affected by whooping cough disease and associated hospitalisation are infants less than 6 months of age (131 cases in total). All regions of the country have seen a marked increase in cases reported to the Departments of Public Health.
Vaccination recommendations
Infant vaccination
All babies should be vaccinated with the pertussis containing vaccine ('6-in-1' vaccine) at 2, 4, and 6 months of age.
Preschool booster
All children should receive a booster dose at 4-5 years of age. This is usually given by the school vaccination teams or by the GP (depending on the HSE area) school
Adolescent booster
All adolescents should receive a booster at 11-14 years of age. This is provided by the school vaccination teams for those in 1st year of second level school.
Health care workers in contact with pregnant women, babies, children and immunocompromised should get a booster vaccine
Other adults may wish to get the vaccine privately from their GP
People with whooping cough- guidance
Contact your GP if you think you have pertussis. Treatment may be indicated in the early stages of disease.
Stay away from young children and infants until properly treated.
Treatment of people who are close contacts of pertussis cases is also an important part of prevention.
Pertussis is a notifiable disease.
What does pertussis sound like? You can hear the cough by clicking here and following the link
For more information on pertussis please click here
More detailed information on immunisation information is located at www.immunisation.ie
Pertussis (whooping cough) notifications - big increase in 2012 compared to 2011
The number of pertussis (also known as whooping cough) cases continues to rise.
Pertussis, also known as whooping cough, is a highly contagious respiratory disease. The disease is known for uncontrollable, violent coughing which can make it difficult to breathe. After a bout of coughing, someone with pertussis often needs to takes in a deep breath which results in a "whooping" sound. Pertussis most commonly affects infants and young children and can be fatal, especially in babies less than 1 year of age.
Most recent provisional data (as of 8th September) indicates that pertussis notifications continue to increase, 335 cases of whooping cough have been reported to the HSE, compared to 145 for the same time period in 2011. Approximately, a third of all cases have been reported from the HSE Eastern region. Nationally, young infants aged less than 6 months are most affected and most likely to be hospitalised for the disease.
Recommendations Vaccination offers the best protection for young children. Parents please ensure that your child is vaccinated promptly with the pertussis containing vaccine ('6-in-1' vaccine) at 2, 4, and 6 months of age. A fourth dose is recommended at 4-5 years, at school entry. It is planned to extend this to all areas from next September. Children who have never received pertussis vaccines should attend their GP for vaccination.
People who think they or their child may have pertussis should contact their GP for appropriate treatment and stay away from young children and infants until properly treated. Treatment of people who are close contacts of pertussis cases is also an important part of prevention.
Please see your GP if you think you or your child may have pertussis. Pertussis is a notifiable disease.
What does pertussis sound like? You can hear the cough by clicking here and following the link
For more information on pertussis please click here
Continued increase in Pertussis (Whooping cough) - update July 2012
Pertussis (also known as whooping cough) is of growing concern in Ireland, an increase in cases seen in 2011 has continued in 2012.
Pertussis, also known as whooping cough, is a highly contagious respiratory disease. The disease is known for uncontrollable, violent coughing which can make it difficult to breathe. After a bout of coughing, someone with pertussis often needs to take in a deep breath which results in a "whooping" sound. Pertussis most commonly affects infants and young children and can be fatal, especially in babies less than 1 year of age.
Up to 15th July, 244 cases of whooping cough have been reported to the HSE, of which 138 (57%) are laboratory confirmed. This is three times the number reported for the same time period last year. The age group most affected are young infants aged less than 6 months (76 cases), with almost two thirds of these cases being under 3 months. Many were either unvaccinated or incompletely vaccinated. Some were too young for vaccination (< two months of age). (Figures 1 and 2)
In all, 71 people have been hospitalised, and three quarters of these were aged less than 6 months.
Recommendations Vaccination offers the best protection for young children. Parents please ensure that your child is vaccinated promptly with the pertussis containing vaccine (‘6-in-1’ vaccine) at 2, 4, and 6 months of age. A fourth dose is recommended at 4-5 years, at school entry. A further booster, using Tdap which contains low dose acellular pertussis vaccine, was introduced to the schools immunisation programme in the 2011/2012 academic year on a phased basis for first year students in second level schools and it is planned to extend this to all areas from next September. Children who have never received pertussis vaccines should attend their GP for vaccination.
People who think they or their child may have pertussis should contact their GP for appropriate treatment and stay away from young children and infants until properly treated. Treatment of people who are close contacts of pertussis cases is also an important part of prevention.
Please see your GP if you think you or your child may have pertussis. Pertussis is a notifiable disease.
What does pertussis sound like? You can hear the cough by clicking here and following the link.
For more information on pertussis please click here.
Figure 1. Pertussis notifications, by age group, week 1-28 2012
Source: CIDR data extracted 16/07/2012 (provisional)
Source: CIDR data extracted 16/07/2012 (provisional)
Pertussis (Whooping Cough) increase seen in 2011 continues in 2012
Provisional data for the first 15 weeks of 2012 indicates that the high notification rate of pertussis, seen in the latter half of 2011, continues. This year to date, 77 cases of pertussis have been notified, of which 54 are laboratory confirmed. Most cases originate from the east and south of the country, with all areas affected.
The majority of cases 56% were less than five years of age; 44% less than one year of age, and 42% were aged 0-5 months. Among the 43 children less than five years of age, 32 were age eligible for pertussis vaccination; 13 of whom were unvaccinated.
In total, 33 (43%) were hospitalised, 82% of whom were less than one year of age.
The continuing high levels of pertussis transmission in the community are of concern, particularly in relation to severe disease requiring hospitalisation of young children. The completed three dose pertussis vaccination uptake in children at 24 months is currently 95% (Q4 2011).
Recommendations Vaccination offers the best protection to young children. Parents are encouraged to ensure that their children are vaccinated with the pertussis vaccine at 2, 4, and 6 months of age. A fourth dose is recommended at 4-5 years. A further booster, using Tdap which contains low dose acellular pertussis vaccine, was introduced to the schools immunisation programme in the 2011/2012 academic year on a phased basis for first year students in second level schools and this should be extended to all areas from next September.
Pertussis vaccination should be considered for children aged less than 10 years who are exposed to pertussis, if they have received fewer than 4 doses of the vaccine. Children may be given dose four as early as 12 months of age, preferably 6 months after dose three.
People who have, or may have, pertussis should stay away from young children and infants until properly treated. Treatment of people who are close contacts of pertussis cases is also an important part of prevention.
Please see your GP if you think you or your child may have pertussis. Pertussis is a notifiable disease.
CIDR data extracted on 13/04/2012. Data for 2012 is provisional.
