Australia is currently experiencing its largest increase in whooping cough cases in 35 years. Between 2024 and 2025, Australia recorded 82,513 cases, the highest number since national monitoring began in 1991.
What is Whooping Cough?
Whooping cough, also known as pertussis or the "100-day cough," is a potentially fatal respiratory illness caused by the bacteria Bordetella pertussis. It spreads through close contact via coughing and sneezing.
Symptoms and Severity:
Early symptoms resemble a common cold, including a runny nose or sore throat, a phase known as the catarrhal phase.
A persistent cough develops, lasting six to ten weeks. Intense coughing bouts often lead to a high-pitched "whoop" sound, especially in babies and children, during inhalation.
Approximately one in 125 babies under six months with whooping cough die from complications like pneumonia or brain damage.
The illness is particularly severe in newborn babies and infants.
Parents and household contacts are the source of infection in over 50% of infant cases.
Older children and adults can experience interrupted sleep, pneumonia requiring hospitalization, and even rib fractures from severe coughing. Early antibiotic treatment can halt disease progression, but once the cough is established, antibiotics have limited effect.
Vaccination and Immunity:
A combination vaccine for whooping cough, diphtheria, and tetanus is part of Australia's routine infant and childhood immunization schedule, with a booster for Year 7 students.
Pregnant women are advised to vaccinate during each pregnancy to transfer antibodies to their unborn babies, protecting infants too young for immunization. A 2025 Danish study indicated maternal vaccination was 72% effective against laboratory-confirmed whooping cough.
To protect against and limit the spread of the disease, adults are advised to receive a booster vaccination every ten years. Australian health authorities continuously monitor vaccine safety.
Immunization Rate Concerns:
Australia's childhood immunization rate for 2024-25 was the lowest in a decade.
Only about one-fifth of adults aged 50 and older are up-to-date with their whooping cough booster.
Reasons for the Current Surge:
Whooping cough is challenging to control because immunity, whether from vaccination or natural infection, wanes over time, leading to epidemics every two to three years.
In 2024, 57,257 cases were detected, including one antibiotic-resistant case requiring intensive care. This marked the highest notification rate since 1991 and reflects both increased prevalence and improved awareness/testing.
The 2024 surge is partly attributed to disruptions in the usual epidemic cycle caused by COVID-19 public health restrictions. Many children did not receive typical immune boosts from exposure, leaving them more vulnerable once social distancing measures were lifted.
In 2025, 25,256 cases were reported, with the highest rates among school-aged and preschool-aged children.
Timely vaccination across all age groups is considered vital to control the disease's spread and protect vulnerable populations.