What’s behind this year’s historic pertussis outbreak?
Experts predicted a bad year for pertussis but not the scale of the outbreak.
A record-breaking 42,428 pertussis cases have been notified this year compared with the previous high of about 39,000 in 2011 and a mere 2454 cases last year.
Paediatrician and vaccinologist Professor Nicholas Wood said a mix of low vaccination levels, pandemic fallout and the natural cycle of pertussis outbreaks had contributed to the highest number of cases since national monitoring began.
Pertussis cases typically spiked every 3-4 years but COVID-19 had disrupted the pattern, he said.
“The social distancing and masking measures that were set up to protect from COVID-19 also led to a reduction in pertussis cases,” said Professor Wood, from the University of Sydney.
