South Australia's Department of Health is urging parents to make sure their children are immunised against whooping cough as an outbreak is beginning in SA.
Vaccination against whooping cough is part of the standard childhood immunisations.
The Director of Communicable Diseases Branch, Dr Rod Givney, says while there are always some cases on whooping cough in the community, wider outbreaks or epidemics occur every 3-4 years.
SA is currently experiencing the highest levels of whooping cough since 2001, when there were almost 2000 cases. Increased cases are occurring throughout the state, and nationally.
“There have been more cases notified so far this year than for the whole of last year, with 75 cases notified last month, signalling a significant upwards trend,” Dr Givney says.
Vaccination is the most effective means of preventing whooping cough. The Australian Standard Vaccination Schedule provides free whooping cough vaccination for infants at 2, 4, and 6 months, and as a pre-school booster at 4 years.
Parents can request their child's immunisation history either by phoning the Australian Childhood Immunisation Register ACIR on 1800 653 809 or by requesting an Immunisation History Statement on-line at .
They will need to quote their child's Medicare number.
Antibiotics commenced very early in the infection can shorten the duration of symptoms, and more importantly, will reduce the time that a person is able to spread the infection to others, which may be for up to 3 weeks without treatment. Antibiotics given after contact with an infected person may prevent a child developing infection.
A newly available vaccine for adolescents is also available this year. It is being provided free in the school-based program in South Australia for year 9 students. The new vaccine is also recommended as a booster for parents of newborn babies, parents planning pregnancy, child-care workers, health care workers who care for young children and anyone who wants protection against whooping cough.
Whooping cough is a highly contagious bacterial disease spread by respiratory droplets produced through coughing or sneezing. Up to 100% of susceptible household contacts and 80% of susceptible school contacts will get the disease if exposed.