NSW Health is today advising that whooping cough infections continue to rise across the state.
NSW Health is urging pregnant women, parents and carers of babies, grandparents and other people in close contact with babies to be vaccinated to protect babies from severe disease.
The latest NSW Health Respiratory Surveillance Report shows notifications of whooping cough are at their highest level since 2016, with over 12,000 cases reported from January to September 2024.
NSW Health’s Director of Communicable Diseases Dr Christine Selvey said vaccination in pregnancy is very important to help protect newborn babies who are most at risk of serious illness from whooping cough.
“Free whooping cough vaccines are available for all pregnant women. Pregnant women are recommended to be vaccinated between 20 and 32 weeks of every pregnancy as this enables whooping cough antibodies to be transferred to their unborn baby,” Dr Selvey said.
“Parents and carers should ensure all children are vaccinated on time, especially in the first six months of life.
“It’s also important all people in contact with newborn babies have had a pertussis vaccine within the previous 10 years. People aged 5 years and over can receive pertussis vaccination from GPs, pharmacist immunisers, and Aboriginal medical services.
“While notifications are increasing in all age groups, cases are highest in school aged children. NSW Health works with the Department of Education and the early childhood education sector, to increase awareness and provide information to families and staff about the importance of vaccination, early diagnosis and treatment.”
People should be aware of the signs and symptoms of whooping cough including:
- Whooping cough starts like a cold with a blocked or runny nose, sneezing, a mild fever and an occasional cough.
- Coughing bouts can worsen and be followed by vomiting, choking or taking a big gasping breath which causes a “whooping” sound. The cough can last for many weeks and can be worse at night.
- Some newborns may not cough at all but stop breathing completely and turn blue. Other babies have difficulties feeding or they can choke and gag.
- Older children and adults may just have a mild cough that doesn’t go away. In adults the cough commonly lasts 5-7 weeks, sometimes longer.
People with symptoms should contact their GP early and follow their treatment advice and the standard advice to avoid spreading infection to others.
After 5 days of treatment with appropriate antibiotics people with whooping cough are no longer infectious but without proper treatment they will remain infectious for 21 days. If given early, antibiotics can reduce the duration of symptoms. Antibiotics are rarely needed if it has been 3 weeks since cough onset.
Call healthdirect on 1800 022 222 if you or your child are unwell and you’re not sure where to go, healthdirect is free and available 24 hours a day, 7 days. A nurse will answer your call, ask some questions and connect you with the right care.
If you or your child’s situation is life-threatening, please call Triple Zero (000) or present to your nearest emergency department immediately.
For more information on whooping cough, visit the NSW Health website.
