What we know about the resurgence of the whooping cough epidemic in France
A call for vigilance for all young parents and their infants. Public Health France (SPF) has recorded an increase in cases of whooping cough since the start of 2024. This highly contagious respiratory disease of bacterial origin can be serious in vulnerable people, particularly the elderly, pregnant women and babies under six months of age who are not yet protected by vaccination.
If France is not the only European country affected by this resurgence, the public health agency calls, in a bulletin published Thursday April 18has “reinforced vigilance”. Here is what we know about this increase in cases in France and Europe.
Whooping cough is a respiratory infection causing coughing fits which, if left untreated, can continue for several weeks. It is particularly dangerous in the elderly, pregnant women and infants who have not yet been vaccinated (the first dose of vaccine is injected at two months of age, then a second dose is administered at four months).
In newborns, whooping cough can lead to hospitalization and even be fatal. “Hospital stay is systematic for babies under three months”precise health insurance. In France, “more than 90% of deaths from whooping cough occur during the first six months of life, and particularly during the first three months”also warns the High Authority of Health (HAS).
If Public Health France calls for vigilance, it is because this disease is very contagious. A sick person can infect on average 15 to 17 people and the incubation period, that is to say the time between the penetration of the bacteria into the body and the appearance of the first symptoms, is around ten days, recalls Health Insurance. This contamination occurs through the air, through contact with droplets coming from the patient’s nose or mouth and projected during coughing.
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- Source of information and images “francetvinfo“
