A total of 77 cases of pertussis that resulted in 17 clusters were confirmed last year (2014), which is higher than the numbers of cases confirmed in 2012 and 2013. Most of the clusters family clusters. The Taiwan Centers for Disease Control (Taiwan CDC) warns that the initial symptoms of pertussis are similar to those of a common cold. The average amount of time elapsed between the onset of symptoms and diagnosis can be up to 20 days long. Therefore, by the time a case is identified, several contacts might have become infected, resulting in clusters of infection. Physicians and the public are thus urged to heighten vigilance for pertussis in order to ensure their own health and the health of their family.

According to Taiwan CDC’s statistics, the majority of the 77 confirmed pertussis cases are infants aged below 2 months (30 cases, 39.07%), followed by children aged between 3 months to 2 years (16 cases, 20.8%), followed by children aged between 3 years to 10 years (5 cases, 6.5%), adolescents aged between 11 years to 20 years (14 cases, 18.2%), and followed by people aged over 21 (12 cases, 15.6%). Among these cases, 33 infants and children were not vaccinated against pertussis prior to their disease onset. A total of 22 cases were adults or vaccinated people who lost their immunity as they got older. 16 of the 17 clusters of infection were family clusters and 1 was school-based cluster. 12 clusters occurred in northern Taiwan. The numbers of pertussis cases confirmed during 2011 and 2014 respectively are 77, 54, 51 and 77, including 3 deaths that occurred in infants under the age of 2 months.

Taiwan CDC once again reminds the public that vaccination is the most effective way to prevent pertussis. In Taiwan, the existing routine childhood vaccination schedule recommends one dose of pertussis vaccine to children 2, 4, 6, 27 months and 5 years of age and first graders in elementary schools. Parents are urged to ensure their children vaccinated in a timely manner in order to protect their children from the threat of the disease.  Pertussis is an acute respiratory infectious disease caused by Bordetella pertussis. It is highly contagious and primarily transmitted through airborne droplets. The clinical symptoms include cough that lasts at least two weeks, followed by paroxysmal cough, inspiratory whoop or vomiting after coughing. Pertussis is common in children aged below 5, but it can happen to people at any age with milder symptoms. Infants and children usually experience more severe symptoms when they become infected. Infants below the age of one are at increased risk of becoming infected.

Hence, both adults and older children are urged to pay attention to cough etiquette and respiratory hygiene, especially when returning home from the outside. Prior to contacting infants and children, one should wash his/her hands and change clothes to prevent passing on germs to the infants and children. Avoid visiting crowded and poorly ventilated public places and hospitals with infants and children. If symptoms develop, please seek immediate medical attention, put on a mask, follow the doctor’s instructions in completing the treatment, and cooperate with the health authorities in implementing relevant infection control measures to prevent further transmission of the disease. For more information, please visit the Taiwan CDC website at http://www.cdc.gov.tw or call the toll-free Communicable Disease Reporting and Consultation Hotline, 1922 (or 0800-001922).