Jun 03, 2024 07:00 PM
China’s Whooping Cough Epidemic Dramatically Worsens
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China’s whooping cough epidemic got dramatically worse in April, with over 90,000 cases reported that month, an increase of over 80 times from the same month in 2023 and a threefold increase from the month before, official data showed.
April’s figures, which include seven deaths, surpass the total number of cases recorded by the National Disease Control and Prevention Administration (NDCPA) in the years from 2020 to 2023. In April last year, 1,074 cases were recorded.
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- In April, China reported over 90,000 whooping cough cases, a dramatic increase from previous years, with seven deaths that month.
- The Chinese Center for Disease Control attributes the epidemic to declining population immunity and notes improved testing methods.
- Pertussis vaccination has reduced incidents since 1978; however, case numbers have risen since the mid-2010s, peaking again post-Covid-19.
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What Happened When
- 1978：
- Pertussis vaccine was included in China’s planned immunization program, significantly decreasing the incidence of the disease.
- Mid-2010s：
- The number of whooping cough cases began to rise again, reaching around 6,000 in 2015 and over 30,000 in 2019.
- 2020：
- 4,475 cases of whooping cough were recorded.
- 2021：
- 9,611 cases of whooping cough were recorded.
- 2022：
- China reported 38,295 cases of whooping cough, the highest number globally after a rebound post-COVID-19 lull.
- 2023：
- A total of 38,205 cases of whooping cough were recorded.
- Winter before April 2024：
- There was a surge in mycoplasma pneumoniae infections attributed to weakened immunity among children due to three years of COVID controls.
- By April 2024：
- 60,000 cases of whooping cough were reported in the first three months of the year and 20 deaths in the first four months.
- April 2024：
- China’s whooping cough epidemic worsened dramatically with over 90,000 cases reported, including seven deaths.
- Late May 2024：
- The Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention attributed the epidemic to a decline in population immunity and mentioned that improved testing methods have led to more diagnoses.
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