relapse of the disease in France

The baby died on April 24 in Nice from whooping cough. As France sees a rise in cases of this highly contagious disease, health authorities are reminding people of the importance of vaccination.

A three-week-old infant died of whooping cough at the CHU-Lenval in Nice (Alpes-Maritimes) on April 24. Three more newborns with the same disease were admitted to the hospital. Since then, the Lenval Foundation has called for vaccination against whooping cough. This tragedy reflects the resurgence of the disease observed in France since the beginning of the year. Highly contagious, this respiratory disease is transmitted through airborne droplets. It spreads quickly inside homes. Unvaccinated infants are at greatest risk. Because 90% of deaths from whooping cough occur in the first six months of life.

70 cases of whooping cough reported

Whooping cough comes back every three to five years. The latest peak recorded by the RENACOQ network (a hospital surveillance network for pertussis) dates back to 2017 and amounted to 162 cases. Since the first quarter of 2024, health authorities have already registered 70 cases. “About fifteen clusters were reported, mainly in communities (kindergartens, primary schools, kindergartens and orphanages), but also in families {…}. » More details from the National Public Health Agency on its website. In comparison, the RENACOQ network recorded 45 cases in 2022 and 39 cases in 2023.

Importance of vaccination

Vaccination is the only way to combat whooping cough. With an effectiveness of 85% to 100%, it protects for five to ten years. Since 2018, infant vaccination has become mandatory. An injection is required at two months and another at four months. Several reminders are then laid out until adulthood. The vaccine is also recommended for pregnant women in the second or third trimester of pregnancy. Thus, by the time of birth the fetus has a sufficient amount of antibodies. Otherwise, the mother can be vaccinated during the first six months of the child’s life, as can her immediate environment.

An alarming situation on a European scale

Such policies for vaccinating pregnant women exist in approximately thirty countries around the world. Despite this initiative, the situation is alarming in other states where the number of cases is rising. This is the case in Belgium, Spain and Germany. In the United Kingdom, a 2022 study found that vaccination rates among pregnant women had fallen to 61.5%, the lowest level since 2016. According to the UK Health Security Agency, 1,141 cases of vaccination were identified in England and Wales between January and November 2023. But the situation looks most explosive in the Netherlands, where since the beginning of the year the Dutch National Institute of Public Health and the Environment has registered 5,303 cases of whooping cough. Of the 276 children affected, four newborns died.