Pertussis epidemic in Denmark, August 2023 to February 2024

We report a record high pertussis epidemic in Denmark since August 2023. Highest incidence was in adolescents, while peak incidence in infants was lower vs previous epidemics in 2019 and 2016. Among infants aged 0-2 months, over half (29/48) were hospitalised and one infant died, underlining the disease severity in the youngest. To protect infants, pertussis vaccination in pregnant women was introduced in January 2024 in the national vaccination programme. Improved vaccination surveillance in pregnant women is being implemented.PMID:38577803 | PMC:PMC11004589 | DOI:10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2024.29.14.2400160

Source: Euro Surveill - April 5, 2024 Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: Anne Christine Nordholm Hanne-Dorthe Emborg Sarah Kristine N ørgaard Ulrikka Nygaard Aoife Ronayne Lise Birk Nielsen Bolette S øborg Peter H Andersen Tine Dalby Source Type: research