Michael E. DeBakey Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center

Baby Dead: Doctors Appeal For Whooping Cough Vaccination

Society International

„Ja, meine Kinder haben meine Karriere ruiniert"

139.979 mal gelesen

Kärnten

14-Jähriger soll Mädchen (11) vergewaltigt haben

114.053 mal gelesen

Steiermark

„Pickerl"-Wirbel um steirische Autowerkstätten

103.016 mal gelesen

Whooping Cough Outbreak In Netherlands; Four Babies Died This Year

There is a whooping cough outbreak in the Netherlands. Four babies have died, and the RIVM has received 1,400 reports of whooping cough infections so far this year, a spokesperson elaborated on released figures to RTL Nieuws. The public health institute urged people with a cough or runny nose to avoid contact with pregnant women and newborn babies.

Earlier this month, the RIVM already warned of an increase in whooping cough infections. "The increase in the number of babies with whooping cough is now visible throughout the country," the RIVM said. "Previously, the increase could only be seen in the Bible Belt."

"About 85 percent of babies were not sufficiently protected against whooping cough because the baby and/or mother had not been vaccinated," the RIVM said. "Vaccination of pregnant women and newborn babies is the most important way to prevent whooping cough." The vaccination of a pregnant mom at 22 weeks, followed by the newborn vaccination, prevents an infection in 9 out of 10 babies under three months of age.

Whooping cough is a disease caused by bacteria that is characterized by severe coughing that could last for months. The disease can be especially dangerous to babies under 1 year old because they have not yet been sufficiently vaccinated. More than half of babies who get whooping cough need hospitalization. On average, one to two babies die of whooping cough per year.

Children following the Dutch vaccination program get three jabs against diphtheria, whooping cough, tetanus, and polio. They get a booster when they turn four years old and again after their ninth birthday.

This is the second outbreak of an infectious disease that forms part of the national vaccination program reported in the Netherlands in two days. Yesterday, the health authorities reported a measles outbreak in Eindhoven. Fourteen unvaccinated children and one adult had been diagnosed with measles in the city.

The vaccination rate of children in the Netherlands has been falling since the coronavirus pandemic. Earlier this week, the GGD Haaglanden health service warned that the childhood vaccination rate in The Hague has fallen by 10 percent in four years. Not a single Hague district currently meets the minimum required 90 percent vaccination rate to prevent an outbreak.

UKHSA Data Shows Continued Increase In Whooping Cough Cases

New data published today by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) shows there has been a continued increase in pertussis (whooping cough) cases at the start of this year, with 553 confirmed in England in January, compared with 858 cases for the whole of last year (2023).

The increase in whooping cough across England is occurring after a prolonged period of low case numbers due to restrictions and reduced social mixing patterns during the COVID-19 pandemic. We know that cases of whooping cough rise cyclically every few years, with the last peak year, 2016, recording 5,949 cases. The current increase is coming at a time when there has been a steady decline in uptake of the vaccine in pregnant women and in children.

In response to increasing case numbers, the UKHSA is reminding mums-to-be to get protected against whooping cough so that their young baby has protection from birth against this serious disease and to ask their midwife if they are unsure. UKHSA is also urging parents to check that their children are vaccinated against whooping cough, which is offered to all infants at 8, 12 and 16 weeks of age (as part of the 6-in-1 combination vaccine) with an additional dose included in the pre-school booster vaccine.

This reminder is part of the UKHSA's new Childhood Immunisation Campaign urging parents to check the vaccination status of their children against measles and other serious diseases, which went live across a range of media channels at the start of this week. Parents are being asked to respond to invites from the NHS or to book an appointment with their GP practice if their child has not received all their routine vaccines.

Data for January show that there were 22 infants aged under 3 months diagnosed with whooping cough. These infants, who are too young to be fully vaccinated, are at greater risk of severe disease, including death. UKHSA is strongly encouraging expectant mothers to take up the maternal vaccine. Vaccination of pregnant women is 97% effective at preventing death in young infants from whooping cough.

As a result of the rising cases in 2024, the UKHSA has also moved to a monthly reporting cycle for whooping cough infections to provide timely information on disease rates across the country to help local public health teams respond to outbreaks and to support the health professionals delivering the routine NHS Childhood Vaccination Programme.

Dr Gayatri Amirthalingam, Consultant Epidemiologist at UK Health Security Agency, said: 

Whooping cough can affect people of all ages but for very young infants, it can be particularly serious. However, vaccinating pregnant women is highly effective in protecting babies from birth until they can receive their own vaccines. Parents can also help protect their children by ensuring they receive their vaccines at the right time or catching up as soon as possible if they have missed any. If you're unsure, please check your child's red book or get in touch with your GP surgery."

Steve Russell, National Director for Vaccinations and Screening at NHS England, said: 

With whooping cough on the rise, it is important that families come forward to get the protection they need. 

If you are pregnant and have not been vaccinated yet, or your child is not up-to-date with whooping cough or other routine vaccinations, please contact your GP as soon as possible, and if you or your child have symptoms ask for an urgent GP appointment or get help from NHS 111."

The new campaign comes after a steady decline over the past decade in uptake of all childhood vaccinations offered through the routine NHS programme in England. The number of 2-year-olds who completed their 6-in-1 vaccinations as of September 2023 is 92.9%, compared to 96.3% in March 2014. Uptake of the maternal pertussis vaccine, offered to women in every pregnancy, has also dropped from over 70% in September 2017 to around 58% in September 2023.

Whooping cough, clinically known as pertussis, is a bacterial infection which affects the lungs. The first signs of infection are similar to a cold, such as a runny nose and sore throat, but after about a week, the infection can develop into coughing bouts that last for a few minutes and are typically worse at night. Young babies may also make a distinctive "whoop" or have difficulty breathing after a bout of coughing.

If anyone in your family is diagnosed with whooping cough, it's important they stay at home and do not go into work, school or nursery until 48 hours after starting antibiotics, or 3 weeks after symptoms start if they have not had antibiotics. This helps to prevent the spread of infection, especially to vulnerable groups. However, vaccination remains the best protection for babies and children.

---