Epidemiology of Pertussis in Taiwan, 1993-1998, and Its Control Measures

Lai HK

2000 Vol.16 NO.12

Correspondence Author：

Abstract：

Taiwan began to offer children DPT (diphtheria, pertussis and tetanus combined) vaccines in 1954, and the whole-cell pertussis vaccine in early 1955. The number of reported pertussis cases subsequently decreased yearly from 691 in 1955 to only a few in 1970. This low incidence remained throughout the period between 1971 and 1991 until a sudden increase of 226 cases occurred in an outbreak in 1992. Then, the Epidemiology Meeting of the Department of Health formulated a set of standards for the reporting and classification of pertussis cases; and at the same time, it was decided that in addition to the isolation of Bordetella pertussis by laboratory testing, a confirmed case must also meet the criteria determined by