On July 29, Public Health France provided an update on the whooping cough epidemic, the bacteria of which has been actively circulating across the country in recent months.
- Between March and June, “the number of SOS Médecins procedures for a diagnosis of whooping cough increased 75-fold” in France.
- According to the latest figures from Public Health France, 199 babies under 12 months old have been hospitalized, including 158 under 6 months old, for whooping cough.
- Since the beginning of the year, 28 deaths have been recorded in the territory. These were 20 children, 18 under one year old, and 8 adults, aged 51 to 86.
It all started in April 2024. At that time, Public Health France had, for the first time, warned of the resurgence of whooping cough, which evolves in cycles every three to five years, in Europe and in France. “During the first quarter of 2024 in France, several grouped cases of whooping cough in communities were reported with a higher number of clusters compared to the whole of 2023, announcing the start of a resurgence of whooping cough in at least 4 French regions. In a few weeks, seven regions (Ile-de-France, Brittany, Pays de Loire, Auvergne Rhône-Alpes, Grand-Est, Occitanie and Nouvelle-Aquitaine) reported more than twenty clusters in communities (mainly nursery and primary schools, daycare centers and nursery homes, middle schools and high schools) or families, with a majority of cases who were not up to date with their vaccination.”
Whooping cough: 28 deaths recorded with a peak observed in July
At the beginning of June, the various indicators of surveillance of whooping cough, which is mainly caused by the bacterium Bordetella pertussis, confirmed the epidemic resurgence of this highly contagious disease in the country. This intensification of the circulation of whooping cough has led in recent weeks to significant increases in the number of visits to emergency rooms, hospitalizations after visits to emergency rooms and SOS doctors. In his last pointpublished on July 29, Public Health France details the figures recorded since the beginning of the year. As of July 24, the Sentinelles network reported 225 cases between January 1 and June 30, 2024 compared to none in 2023 over the same period. “The number of SOS Médecins procedures for a diagnosis of whooping cough has increased 75-fold,” between March and June.
On the hospital side, the number of emergency room visits for whooping cough increased 15-fold between March and June before decreasing slightly. Between these months, the number of hospitalizations after an emergency room visit increased 6-fold, with a very significant increase since mid-May. According to the RENACOQ network, 199 infants under 12 months were hospitalized, including 158 under 6 months. “A number almost 5 times higher than the 2023 total with 41 cases.” Regarding deaths since the beginning of 2024, a provisional total of 28 deaths has been reported, including 20 children, 18 under the age of one, and 8 adults, aged 51 to 86, “but whooping cough was not listed as the primary cause of death.” According to the data, the highest number of deaths was observed in July with 9 deaths.
Vaccinate more pregnant women
As a reminder, whooping cough is transmitted through the air, and in particular through contact with a sick person with a cough. Transmission occurs mainly within families or in communities. Infants under 6 months are the most affected by severe forms, hospitalizations and also deaths. Faced with the continuation of the epidemic in France, Public Health France reiterates the importance of vaccination for pregnant women, recommended since April 2022 to protect newborns and young infants. As for the High Authority for Health (HAS), it advises that anyone in close contact with a newborn and/or infant under 6 months in a family or professional setting receive a booster against whooping cough if the last vaccination is more than five years old.
