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.
