The Department of Health and Consumer Affairs of the Government of Andalusia considers 122 cases of whooping cough in the province of Cadiz during the first five months of the year. A fact that is causing concern due to the increase in the number of cases compared to the normal incidence that this bacterial infection usually has.
Thus, in Andalusia, since the beginning of 2024, 1853 cases of whooping cough have been identified, which is 390% more than last year, when 378 cases were recorded. Sources from Catalina García’s office expressed “calmness” because “the percentage of income is minimal” and explained that whooping cough acts “in waves, and now, at the national level, we are in one of them.” Most hospitalizations occur in infants under four months of age. There were no deaths reported in either 2023 or 2024.
Sources in the Ministry of Health and Consumer Affairs told Europa Press. The highest number of cases occurs in infants aged three to eleven months compared to children younger than three months., a situation that has been happening since 2015, when vaccination of pregnant women against whooping cough was launched. This maternal vaccination “continues to be effective in protecting children in the first months of life from this disease.”
By province, The most cases were recorded in Granada – 875. it is followed by Seville – 357. Thus, 140 people are registered in Malaga; in Jaén – 131; 122 in Cadiz; in Almeria – 113; in Huelva – 117, and in last place Cordoba – only eight cases. Whooping cough is a bacterial infection caused by Bordetella pertussis. The clinic varies depending on age. Infants younger than six months may not develop the typical condition, and spasms may be accompanied by periods of apnea. In adolescents and adults, the disease may be mild and not be identified as whooping cough.
At the moment, The childhood vaccination schedule in Andalusia includes the vaccine against whooping cough with a two-dose primary series at two and four months of age and two booster doses at eleven months and six years of age. In addition, since 2015 Pregnant women are vaccinated between 28 and 36 weeks as an “effective” measure. for the prevention of whooping cough in children under three months of age. Currently, vaccination coverage among minors in Andalusia is almost 95%, and vaccination coverage among pregnant women exceeds 90%.