NSW has just reported the death of a 4 week old baby from pertussis, the first since the 1990’s.
The number of notified cases of pertussis (whooping cough) has increased sharply in Victoria, with a 48% increase occurring between December 2007 and December 2008. This has prompted the Chief Health Officer of Victoria to issue a pertussis alert (link below).
The number of notified cases of pertussis (whooping cough) has increased sharply in Victoria, with a 48% increase occurring between December 2007 and December 2008.
Babies are at risk from birth as no pertussis protection is passed from mother to newborn infant. Pertussis vaccination is offered as part of the National Immunisation Program for children at 2, 4, 6 months, at 4 years and in year 10 of secondary school (or 15 years of age). A child who has received less than three doses of a pertussis containing vaccine should be considered at risk of pertussis. People become immune either through pertussis immunisation or by catching the disease itself, but protection is not life long and begins to wane after 6-10 years.
Please encourage those in the below groups to have an adult pertussis booster vaccine (combined with diphtheria and tetanus), providing they have previously completed a primary (childhood) course of vaccine:
• Adults before planning pregnancy or for both parents as soon as possible after birth
• Adults working with or caring for very young babies, especially health-care workers and child-care workers
http://www.gpv.org.au/files/downloadable_files/QUALITY%20SUPPORT/PUBLIC%20HEALTH%20ALERTS/20090311_Pertussis%20Alert_dhs.pdf
If you would like further information on the pertussis notifications in your division please see the IDEAS section of the DHS website: http://www.health.vic.gov.au/ideas/downloads/daily_reports/statewide/rptDGPSummary.pdf
Each division is listed and under the vaccine preventable diseases are the pertussis notifications
Michelle Wills
Program Consultant
General Practice Victoria
1st Floor, 458 Swanston Street
Carlton, Vic. 3053
Phone: (03) 9341 5226
Email: m.wills@gpv.org.au
