Experts’ plea as whooping cough cases surge in Qld

Declining vaccination rates and a lack of personal hygiene diligence were contributing to a surge in whooping cough cases in Queensland, experts say.

A shocking surge of deadly whooping cough is only getting worse in Queensland, with the state recording thousands of cases in the first months of the year.

Infectious disease experts have attributed the concerning spike in cases to declining immunisation rates and falling personal hygiene etiquette since the Covid-19 pandemic.

There have been 2384 whooping cough, or pertussis, cases in the state so far this year, according to Queensland Health data, 3.4 times the 2020-24 average.

The highly contagious respiratory infection is particularly dangerous for babies.

There 15,012 whooping cough infections in Queensland in 2024 was more than what had been recorded in the previous 11 years combined.

A total of infants under six months old were hospitalised, and one child killed from the deadly infection.

Mater Hospital Brisbane director of infectious diseases Professor Paul Griffin said while cases were slightly lower than the same period last year (2967 cases), the numbers were still very concerning and had been impacted by declining vaccination rates.

A total of 90.8 per cent of one-year-olds were vaccinated against whooping cough as of September 2024 — down from 94.4 per cent at the end of 2018, according to Queensland Health.

Whooping cough vaccination rates among pregnant women in Queensland had also dropped, from around 77 per cent in 2020 to around 70 per cent in 2023.

“It is important people appreciate that the numbers are very high and higher than we’d normally see,” Prof Griffin said.

“Then if we add to that, a reduction in vaccination rates, that’s certainly going to be a factor, and going to be contributing to the significance of those cases as well.

Professor Adrian Esterman

“We know it’s far worse in people who aren’t vaccinated.”

University of South Australia biostatistics and epidemiology Professor Adrian Esterman said Australia was still experiencing the peak in a whooping cough case outbreak, which typically occurred every three to five years.

He said the outbreak, which was initially expected around 2020-22, had been delayed as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Prof Esterman said the decline in vaccination rates in Australia was concerning and urged public health authorities to push for more messaging around immunisations.

Acting chief health officer Catherine McDougall stressed that vaccination against the contagious respiratory infection was essential for babies and young children.

“Vaccines save lives and we know that vaccinating pregnant women against whooping cough reduces the risk of their babies contracting the infection by 75 per cent,” Dr McDougall said.

“That’s why it’s especially crucial for pregnant women to be vaccinated to protect themselves and their unborn babies.

“While the number of cases per week has declined since then to between 50-80 cases per week over the last four weeks, it’s clear that whooping cough is continuing to circulate in the Queensland community, which is why it’s critical that people get vaccinated to protect themselves and their loved ones.”

The pertussis, or whooping cough vaccine, is available for free under the National Immunisation Program during pregnancy, for children aged 2, 4, 6, and 18 months, and for adolescents aged 12-19 (inclusive).

Boosters are recommended 10 years after vaccinations.

Originally published as Experts’ plea as whooping cough cases surge in Qld