An outbreak of whooping cough in Guadalajara has affected 137 people, but there are no serious cases.
The number of people affected by the whooping cough outbreak in Guadalajara has reached 137, after 124 notified yesterday by the Ministry of Health of the Government of Castile-La Mancha. The first case was detected in December last year and spread mainly in schools, with only six adults among the cases.
The origin of this outbreak is unknown and health sources have confirmed elDiarioclm.es It is under investigation, although they say it is a “common respiratory infection” and that the outbreak is “not alarming” despite the high number of infections, which they say is due to the fact that it is spreading quickly. There are no hospitalized or serious cases.
The Madrid Ministry of Health, for its part, confirmed. elDiario.es that there are no educational centers affected by the outbreak. However, there was an outbreak in a family in the Alcalá de Henares area that was “contained” a few days ago. Nearby people, including the school community, were informed of the rules of conduct.
The Castilla-Manchego Health Department ensures that contacts – family, school and extracurricular – have been investigated, medications have been recommended and affected people have been advised to remain isolated in their homes.
In addition, it is recommended to complete vaccination in cases where it is necessary. “Most of the victims were vaccinated, so there were no hospitalizations,” confirm the same sources. In Castile-La Mancha, pertussis vaccine is given to newborns, it is part of the hexavalent vaccine, and is now also given to pregnant women.
The information note was also sent to educational centers and spaces where extracurricular activities are held, as well as to parents. In Castile-La Mancha, classrooms are completely normal, according to Health sources.
Characteristics of whooping cough
Whooping cough is an infectious disease caused by bacteria that are highly contagious through the respiratory tract. Bordetella whooping cough, which poses a serious threat to the lives of infants if they are not vaccinated. The infection can be serious in unvaccinated infants, immunocompromised children, or pregnant women.
Symptoms develop in two phases. The first, which usually lasts one or two weeks, is easily confused with a cold or other respiratory infections because it causes nasal congestion, low fever and an occasional mild cough. Starting in the second week, the most severe symptoms may appear, especially rapid, severe and uncontrollable coughing attacks.
Health authorities insist on the importance of vaccination as a key strategy to protect against this type of disease, as well as following the instructions provided by public health authorities for those affected and their contacts. Experts have confirmed an increase in whooping cough cases since the COVID-19 pandemic, both in Spain and abroad.