Whooping Cough News and Research

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Whooping Cough is a serious bacterial infection of the lungs and breathing tubes that spreads easily. Whooping cough begins like a cold, but develops into severe coughing and gasping for air. Long spells of coughing may cause vomiting, and broken blood vessels in the eyes and on the skin. Also called pertussis.

Review: Facilitators and barriers to vaccination uptake in pregnancy

Researchers from St George’s, University of London have identified key barriers to vaccine uptake for whooping cough, flu and Covid-19 in pregnant women, and outline recommendations for addressing vaccine hesitancy. The results are from the first review of its kind and published today in the journal PLOS ONE.

23 Apr 2024

Researchers identify key barriers and outline recommendations for vaccine uptake in pregnant women

Researchers from St George's, University of London have identified key barriers to vaccine uptake for whooping cough, flu and Covid-19 in pregnant women, and outline recommendations for addressing vaccine hesitancy.

17 Apr 2024

Denmark's pertussis epidemic reveals the power of maternal vaccination

A study published in Eurosurveillance details the 2023 pertussis epidemic in Denmark, emphasizing the age-specific incidence, the role of maternal vaccination in reducing infant hospitalizations, and the impact of vaccination strategies on managing the outbreak.

8 Apr 2024

New glycan found to play a key role in nasal colonization of whooping cough bacteria

Researchers have identified a new complex-carbohydrate biomolecule, or glycan, that plays a key role in the nasal colonization of the Bordetella bacteria responsible for whooping cough.

25 Mar 2024

UKHSA data shows continued increase in whooping cough cases

New data published today by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) shows there has been a continued increase in pertussis (whooping cough) cases at the start of this year, with 553 confirmed in England in January, compared with 858 cases for the whole of last year (2023).

7 Mar 2024

COVID-19 booster enhances virus neutralizing antibodies in breast milk, new study reveals

The potential of COVID-19 booster vaccine products (antibodies) passed from mother to offspring through breastmilk.

7 Mar 2024

Metal organic frameworks enhance immune response in experimental vaccine

Many vaccines, including vaccines for hepatitis B and whooping cough, consist of fragments of viral or bacterial proteins.

6 Mar 2024

Has a decade of maternal pertussis vaccination reduced its effectiveness?

Research indicates maternal immunization against pertussis remains crucial for newborn protection despite concerns of reduced vaccine effectiveness over time, underscoring its vital role in preventing infant mortality.

3 Feb 2024

Maternal pertussis vaccination boosts infant protection up to eight months

In a large-scale Australian study, maternal vaccination during pregnancy significantly increased pertussis resistance in infants up to eight months. While it slightly reduced the effectiveness of infants' routine vaccinations, it did not increase infection risk.

11 Oct 2023

Color of the phlegm can indicate degree of lung inflammation in patients with bronchiectasis

The color of the phlegm from patients with the lung disease bronchiectasis can indicate the degree of inflammation in their lungs and predict their future outcomes, according to new research presented at the European Respiratory Society International Congress in Milan, Italy.

11 Sep 2023

Strep A infections on the rise among Australians, study finds

Australia has experienced an intense surge in severe Strep A cases, similar to the northern hemisphere wave, despite differences in seasons and circulating respiratory viruses, according to a new study.

22 Aug 2023

Prior vaccinations may help protect against Alzheimer's disease

Prior vaccination against tetanus and diphtheria, with or without pertussis (Tdap/Td); herpes zoster (HZ), better known as shingles; and pneumococcus are all associated with a reduced risk for developing Alzheimer's disease, according to new research from UTHealth Houston.

16 Aug 2023

Survey highlights substantial gaps in knowledge about maternal health

Most people know it isn't safe to smoke or drink alcohol while pregnant, and most know that how well a pregnant person takes care of their health affects the health of their baby.

1 Aug 2023

New vaccine protects infant monkeys from diarrhea and promotes growth

A vaccine originally developed to prevent bacteria-caused diarrhea has now also been found to help infant nonhuman primates grow faster, according to a new study published in Nature Communications.

6 Jul 2023

CDC to reduce funding for states’ child vaccination programs

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is reducing funding to states for child vaccination programs, according to an agency email obtained by KFF Health News.

5 Jul 2023

Study reveals factors impacting pertussis antibody half-lives in infants, sheds light on preterm infants' resilience

Researchers compared two methods of half-life estimation to evaluate the half-life of maternal antibodies.

9 Jun 2023

Nonsurgical system for controlled delivery of antibiotics to treat aggressive periodontitis in adolescents

Aggressive periodontitis is a severe type of gum infection that causes the destruction of ligament and bone and can lead to tooth loss in otherwise healthy individuals.

20 Apr 2023

A technicality could keep RSV shots from kids in need

After more than five decades of trying, the drug industry is on the verge of providing effective immunizations against the respiratory syncytial virus, which has put an estimated 90,000 U.S. infants and small children in the hospital since the start of October.

6 Feb 2023

Brief roundup of research done by experts at UCLA Health

Below is a brief roundup of news and story ideas from the experts at UCLA Health.

21 Dec 2022

Vaccination against pertussis in pregnancy and outstanding scientific questions

A recent paper published in Vaccines summarized the data presented and the discussions in the meeting regarding pertussis vaccination in pregnancy (ViP).

2 Dec 2022