Potentially fatal, whooping cough is a respiratory disease caused by bacteria.
- Whooping cough is a serious and potentially fatal disease.
- After an incubation period of about ten days, whooping cough manifests itself with a runny nose and then a cough.
- A whooping cough epidemic persists in France.
Whooping cough epidemic continues across our country, according to a new report from Public Health France.
“The whooping cough epidemic on the national territory has been observed since the beginning of 2024, with very significant circulation of the bacteria which has intensified in recent months”, first recalls the health agency.
Emergency visits for whooping cough: levels “still very high”
As of September 16, 2024, the update of the various whooping cough surveillance indicators shows several trends.
“The Sentinelles network reported a significant increase in the incidence of confirmed whooping cough since April, continuing until the end of June with a stabilisation in July/August”, the report states. “The incidence of confirmed whooping cough cases seen in general practice consultations was estimated at 134,639 cases for 2024”, she adds.
Furthermore, the weekly number of SOS Médecins procedures for a diagnosis of whooping cough fluctuated over the summer months, while remaining at very high levels.
Another lesson from the survey: after 31 weeks of increases since the beginning of the year, the weekly number of visits to emergency departments for whooping cough has decreased over the last two weeks and has stabilised, but the levels remain very high compared to previous years.
Whooping cough: “a provisional total of 35 deaths has been reported since the beginning of 2024”
“The RENACOQ network reports 277 infants under 12 months hospitalized, including 220 (79%) under 6 months old”, public health experts detail. “A provisional total of 35 deaths have been reported since early 2024, including 22 children (20 under 1 year old) and 13 adults (aged 51 to 95 years old)”, they lament.
Given the continued circulation of the bacteria causing whooping cough at the start of the school year, the following measures must be continued for people at high risk of severe illness and their close contacts:
– updating of whooping cough vaccination according to the schedule;
– for any symptomatic person, strict compliance with hygiene measures applicable to acute respiratory infections.
Whooping cough: what are the symptoms?
After an incubation period of about ten days, whooping cough manifests itself with a runny nose and then a cough. “The cough quickly progresses to fits accompanied by characteristic signs,” precise Health Insurance.