Explainer | Whooping cough: what it is, who’s most at risk, how to prevent it and why it’s nicknamed the 100-day cough
- Whooping cough, or pertussis, may last up to 12 weeks; unlike a regular cough, a ‘whoop’ sound is emitted when gasping for air after a coughing fit
- Cases are spiking in parts of the world; experts explain what causes it, who is most at risk – and why vaccination is the best prevention
In many parts of the world, whooping cough cases are spiking. Many European countries have reported rising cases since 2023, according to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control.
And in January and February, a combined 32,380 cases were recorded in China – far more than the 1,421 cases reported during the same time in 2023. Whooping cough cases are also surging in Australia, with 2,799 cases recorded in the first three months of 2024.
It is hard to say why this highly contagious respiratory illness, officially known as pertussis, is making a comeback. Since a vaccine became available in the 1940s, outbreaks have more or less been under control in countries where the vaccine is widely available.
Whooping cough is caused by the bacteria Bordetella pertussis, which is transmitted through respiratory droplets when an infected person coughs or sneezes.
The bacteria attach to the cilia – tiny hairlike extensions – that line part of the upper respiratory system, where they release toxins that damage the cilia and cause airways to swell, says Dr Andrew Kong, a general practitioner in private practice in Hong Kong.
The illness is hard to definitively diagnose, says Dr Sarah Borwein, also a general practitioner in private practice in Hong Kong.
