Data Analysis - Additional instances of whooping cough in the north raise concerns.
Due to physical separation and health precautions, the rate of whooping cough cases in Hamburg and Schleswig-Holstein experienced a significant reduction during the coronavirus era. However, current numbers hint at a mild resurgence. In Hamburg, 87 cases have been reported so far this year, according to the Hamburg Health Authority. In 2023, there were only 71 cases listed at the Institute for Hygiene and Environment (HU). In the years before COVID-19, the number of cases per year surpassed the hundreds. In 2017 alone, there were 598 incidents. 2018 saw 368 cases, and 332 in 2019. In 2020, there were 80 cases, in 2021, only 29, and in 2022, it fell to 35.
Similar trends are observed in Schleswig-Holstein: "Since March, we have witnessed a rise in whooping cough cases for the first time since the coronavirus epidemic," said Helmut Fickenscher, head of the Infectious Medicine Institute at Kiel University, to the Deutsche Press Agentur (dpa). Since the start of 2024, 284 cases of pertussis have already been reported. This is already 189 more than the entirety of 2023. Among the 2024 cases, 141 have been confirmed so far.
Nationwide, incidences have also increased significantly. As per the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) data, the total number of cases had surpassed 4500 by mid-May. Compared to the previous year, this was double the cases in the same period - about 1500 cases. Furthermore, Europe-wide, the number of infections has risen sharply.
Whooping cough is frequently marked by a persistent cough which may persist for weeks to months. For adults who are otherwise healthy without any high-risk factors (such as advanced age), a pertussis infection is generally not harmful. Nevertheless, it poses a threat to newborns. When babies contract the illness, they are often hospitalized for monitoring or treatment. Instead of coughing, they may develop breathing pauses. Luckily, deaths in Germany are quite low.
Vaccination is a useful measure against whooping cough. For infants in Germany, three vaccinations are suggested at 2, 4, and 11 months of age. Booster shots are also crucial for adults. As per RKI figures, the vaccination rate among German schoolchildren in 2018 was approximately 93%.
ECDC Epidemiological Bulletin: Whooping CoughRKI whooping cough update
