EODY is raising the alarm, highlighting that in recent months, numerous European countries, including Greece, have seen an increase in whooping cough cases compared to previous years. This trend has been observed in Denmark, Belgium, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Montenegro, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, and Serbia.
The rise in reported pertussis cases is likely linked to delayed immunization in certain age groups and the reduced circulation of the pathogen during the COVID-19 pandemic. According to ECDC data, the most affected groups are children, young adolescents, and unvaccinated or partially vaccinated infants.
In Greece, 230 whooping cough cases were reported to EODY from the beginning of 2024 until May 30, 2024, compared to 9 cases in 2023. Notably, 133 out of 230 cases (57.8%) involve children and adolescents under 18 years old, and 58 out of 230 cases (25.2%) involve infants under 12 months old. Additionally, 34 out of 230 cases (14.8%) involve infants under 2 months old, with 2 fatalities and at least three requiring hospitalization in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and Intensive Care Unit (ICU).
Pertussis is an endemic disease with outbreaks occurring every three to five years, even in regions with high vaccination coverage. Infants are at the highest risk of severe illness and death, and almost all deaths in European countries occur in infants under three months of age.
Protecting infants from severe illness and death due to whooping cough is a primary goal of vaccination programs. Timely vaccination starting from the second month of life and completing the vaccination schedule for children and adults per the National Immunization Program (NIP) is essential for preventing whooping cough.
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It is emphasized that the only preventive measure for infants under three months, who have the highest morbidity and mortality rates, is vaccinating pregnant women between the 27th and 36th weeks of pregnancy, according to EPE guidelines.
The National Public Health Organization (EODY) and the National Immunization Committee (NEC) recommend the following:
– Health professionals (especially pediatricians, neonatologists, obstetricians-gynecologists, general practitioners, pathologists, and pulmonologists) should maintain high clinical suspicion (particularly in adults with persistent paroxysmal cough, even without other symptoms) to initiate timely treatment with macrolides. Delayed antibiotic administration is ineffective in treating the disease.
– Antimicrobial treatment should be administered to all individuals who have come into contact with a confirmed whooping cough case, regardless of previous illness or vaccination status.
– All infants and children should be vaccinated according to the National Immunization Program.
– All pregnant women between the 27th and 36th weeks of pregnancy should be promptly vaccinated with the TdaP vaccine, as recommended by the relevant scientific societies: the Association of Obstetricians and Gynecologists of Greece and the Hellenic Society of Perinatal Medicine.
– Unvaccinated children should be vaccinated before leaving the maternity ward.
– All family members who are not fully vaccinated for whooping cough and who will be in contact with newborns and infants should be vaccinated at least two weeks before contact.
