The Czech Republic is grappling with a significant surge in whooping cough (pertussis) cases, with 449 new cases reported last week alone, bringing the total to 1,666 cases since the beginning of the year. This alarming figure surpasses the total count for the past four years combined, according to data from the State Health Institute (SZU).

The outbreak has reached unprecedented levels, exceeding yearly totals for the past two decades, except for 2014, which saw over 2,500 infections. Disturbingly, the highest incidence rates are observed among individuals aged 15 to 19, constituting nearly one-third of all reported cases.

While whooping cough vaccinations are mandatory for infants, the disease is affecting individuals across all age groups, from babies to seniors aged 96, with a median age of 35. SZU reports 36 cases among infants under one year of age in 2024 alone.

Despite the implementation of whooping cough vaccination programs dating back to 1958, the disease has resurfaced with deadly consequences. Between 1984 and 2004, no deaths were recorded in the Czech Republic, but since 2004, there have been four fatalities among unvaccinated infants, along with one senior casualty in 2014.

Regional disparities highlight South Bohemia, Central Bohemia, and Vysocina as the hardest-hit areas, with the Zlin Region experiencing a dramatic surge in cases, more than doubling within a week.

Whooping cough vaccination is administered as part of the hexavaccine regimen for young children, with booster shots recommended at ages ten or eleven due to declining immunity. Experts advocate for additional vaccinations in adulthood to mitigate the spread of the disease.

Peter Sebo, from the Institute of Microbiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, attributes the current outbreak to waning immunity from newer, less effective vaccines among teenagers, compounded by a rising number of unvaccinated individuals in the population.

The escalating whooping cough crisis underscores the urgency for enhanced vaccination efforts and public health interventions to curb the spread of this highly contagious disease and safeguard vulnerable populations.

Article by Prague Forum