Incidence whooping cough increasing in US

In summary, there has been a significant increase in registered cases of whooping cough in the United States, with children under 5 months of age being at the highest risk due to lack of full vaccination. The original vaccine was highly effective but caused adverse reactions, leading to the development of a new vaccine that targeted 3 specific areas on the bacterial cell wall. However, the pertussis bacteria has proven to be adaptable and the new vaccine is less effective. New guidelines on vaccination frequency have been introduced, but a new vaccine is needed to better control and reduce the number of cases. Despite the increase in cases, those who have been vaccinated or partially vaccinated still have an advantage in terms of quicker recovery and reduced risk of serious complications.
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Monique
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The number of registered cases of whooping cough in the United States has increased significantly. Especially children under the age of 5 months are at the most risk, since they haven't been fully vaccinated against the disease.

The number of cases was 19,798 in the '90s, an increase of 49% compared to the previous decennium!

The vaccin against whooping cough was developed in the '40s, before that time there were 160,000 cases of wooping cough every year, of which 5000 died a year.

I wonder why this enormous increase, just because there are so many more people or maybe that the vaccination is becoming less effective due to a new strain?
 
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The original vaccine used the killed bacteria which was highly antigenic, while this was very effective it tended to increase the number of people that had adverse reactions as the technology changes it became possible to produce a vaccine that caused the body to produce antibodies against 3 specific areas on the bacterial cell wall without using the whole bacteria. This vaccine was far better tolerated. Unfortunately the pertussis bacteria which is very common in the environment has proved to be a bit more adaptable than we thought with many of the strains only expressing one or two of the target sites for the antibodies making the vaccine less effective, it also seems that the length of time that significant immunity is present may have been overestimated. Luckily there was a new vaccine that targeted 4 different sites already being introduced, this helped and there are new guidelines on the frequency of vaccination. Basically, this was all a bit of a surprise so we are playing catch up. However while there are more people developing the disease people who have been vaccinated or partially vaccinated are still at an advantage, when the immune system is already primed our body reacts more quickly and more powerfully to infection. Recovery is quicker, they are less likely to develop serious complications and present a reduced infection risk to others. Hopefully as the new measures take effect the increases in cases will be controlled and hopefully reduced but a new vaccine is needed and there is lots of work to that effect, unfortunately this isn't a disease that we eliminate, the bacteria is always around and has a number of naturally occurring variations.
 
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1. What is whooping cough and why is it a concern?

Whooping cough, or pertussis, is a highly contagious respiratory infection caused by the bacteria Bordetella pertussis. It is characterized by severe and persistent coughing fits, often accompanied by a "whooping" sound when the person tries to breathe. It is a concern because it can be especially dangerous for infants and young children, as well as for older adults and those with weakened immune systems.

2. How is the incidence of whooping cough measured?

The incidence of whooping cough is typically measured as the number of reported cases per 100,000 people in a given population over a specific period of time. This data is collected and reported by health agencies such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the United States.

3. Why is the incidence of whooping cough increasing in the US?

The exact reasons for the increase in whooping cough cases in the US are not fully understood. However, some factors that are believed to contribute to the rise include the waning immunity of the pertussis vaccine, better detection and reporting of cases, and the emergence of new strains of the bacteria.

4. Who is most at risk for contracting whooping cough?

While anyone can contract whooping cough, certain populations are more at risk than others. Infants and young children who have not yet completed their pertussis vaccination series are most vulnerable, as well as older adults and individuals with weakened immune systems. Healthcare workers and those who come in close contact with infants are also at a higher risk.

5. What can be done to prevent the spread of whooping cough?

The most effective way to prevent whooping cough is through vaccination. The CDC recommends that children receive the DTaP vaccine, which protects against diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis, at 2, 4, and 6 months of age, with booster shots at 15-18 months and 4-6 years. Pregnant women are also advised to receive the Tdap vaccine during each pregnancy to help protect their newborns. In addition, practicing good hygiene, such as washing hands frequently, covering coughs and sneezes, and staying home when sick, can help prevent the spread of the infection.

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