The virulent whooping cough epidemic, which has caused 42 deaths so far, appears to be on track to end by 2024, but we must remain vigilant because the bacteria continues to circulate at higher levels than in the previous epidemic cycle, Public Health France announced on Friday.
"After a constant increase since March 2024 and a stabilization at very high levels this summer, whooping cough surveillance has shown since September a significant drop in all epidemiological indicators routinely monitored," in hospitals or in community medicine, noted the health agency.
If these declines "seem to herald the end of the 2024 epidemic", we must "remain cautious", because the level of circulation of the bacteria remains higher than in the years of the last epidemic cycle (2017-2018), and a rebound cannot be ruled out in the spring.
From January 1 to November 10, there were 305 infants under one year old hospitalized, more than during the last peaks in 2012 and 2017.
A highly contagious bacterial disease, whooping cough, marked by a very specific cough, is often benign but can lead to serious complications - respiratory and neurological -, sometimes fatal, particularly in babies.
The 2024 epidemic has had “a significant impact in terms of mortality”, with 42 deaths reported so far, almost half of which (20) were infants under 1 year old.
July was the deadliest month (5 adults and 4 children). And more than half of the deaths occurred in the last four months, mostly adults aged 80 and over.
"The number of deaths among very young children seems to have fallen since August, possibly linked to the awareness of health professionals and prevention recommendations," SpF pointed out.
The decline in the epidemic is comparable to that of other European countries, according to the report.
As "whooping cough is more common in spring and summer" and "an epidemic cycle can span more than a year", the health agency warned that "vigilance, with regard to the disease and the circulation of the bacteria, must therefore be maintained in order to identify a possible epidemic resurgence in spring 2025".
She called for continued efforts "which have reduced the number of deaths among newborns and young infants", with vaccination of pregnant women at the forefront.
It is also recommended that anyone in close contact with a newborn and/or an infant under 6 months in a family setting receive a booster, if their last vaccination was more than 5 years ago.
English 
French