Whooping cough returns to France. The circulation of this extremely contagious and sometimes serious disease has “begun in France” since the beginning of the year, notes Public Health France. The organization calls for vigilance and recalls the importance of vaccination.
The health agency warns in particular of “a clear increase in the number of grouped cases”: around fifteen grouped cases have been reported in eight mainland regions since the start of 2024, compared to two in Ile-de-France alone over the entire year. 2023.
A very easily transmitted bacteria
“In the first quarter, around fifteen clusters, mainly in communities (nursery schools, primary schools, daycare centers and nursery homes) but also in families, and totaling 70 cases were reported,” according to a document published Thursday evening on its website. Whooping cough, a respiratory infection caused by bacteria, is transmitted very easily through the air, through contact with a sick person with a cough, mainly in the family or in communities.
It causes frequent and prolonged coughing fits, and can be serious for infants and vulnerable people (chronic respiratory patients, immunocompromised people, pregnant women). Deaths are rare but can occur particularly in very young unvaccinated infants.
Cycles every three to five years
As the “resumption of community circulation of the bacteria could intensify in the coming months”, Public Health France emphasizes that “vigilance remains essential, with the need to strengthen public awareness of this disease and its modalities prevention”, vaccination in mind.
Although the number of cases of whooping cough has fallen sharply since the introduction of the vaccine, “the bacteria continues to circulate” and affects more infants too young to be vaccinated, as well as adolescents and adults who have lost vaccination protection, particularly due to insufficient reminders. Whooping cough progresses in cycles of recrudescence every three to five years. In France, previous epidemic peaks were noted in 1997, 2000, 2005, 2009, 2012-2013 and 2017-2018.
Significant epidemics have been reported in Croatia, Denmark and the United Kingdom and significant increases in cases in Belgium, Spain and Germany. Deaths were also reported this week in the Czech Republic and at the end of January in Serbia.