Whooping cough cases in North Carolina have surged by 6.4 times compared to last year at this time, with close to 600 reported cases as of the week ending Nov. 23. The highly contagious respiratory illness is expected to peak during the fall and winter months.
According to experts, the spike can be attributed to the return to regular socialization habits post-pandemic, as well as vaccine hesitancy. Medical director Suresh Nagappan at Moses Cone Hospital notes that people have lost trust in authority, leading them to question vaccination advice from doctors and public health experts.
Nagappan suggests that healthcare providers need to personalize information given to patients, sharing recent study findings or the impact of vaccines on individual cases. This approach may help build trust and encourage vaccine uptake.
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) has warned about the increased risk of respiratory illnesses following Hurricane Helene, advising vaccination not only for seasonal respiratory viruses but also for whooping cough among unvaccinated individuals.
Historically, whooping cough was a major cause of death in children before widespread vaccination campaigns led to significant declines. However, cases began to rise again after the COVID-19 pandemic, which may have contributed to the decrease in vaccination rates. The US has seen a slight increase in reported cases this year, with experts warning that much of the disease remains unrecognized and unreported.
Nationally, vaccination coverage for kindergarteners has been declining over the past decade, with 93.5% receiving all required vaccinations in North Carolina last year. Meanwhile, exemptions for vaccine administration have increased, driven mostly by non-medical reasons. Despite this trend, Nagappan expresses hope that parents’ recent interest in an antibody treatment for RSV may indicate a willingness to follow specific vaccination advice.
As the country returns to pre-pandemic patterns of whooping cough, health officials stress the importance of preventing the spread of the disease through practices such as masking, handwashing, and social distancing.
Source: https://www.northcarolinahealthnews.org/2024/12/03/whooping-cough-cases-spike-in-n-c