The whooping cough epidemic continues in France and has caused the death of 20 children since January

Whooping cough continues to circulate actively in France, warned Public Health France in its report of Tuesday, July 30. “If some indicators seem to be on the decline”with in particular a lull in visits to emergency rooms, “Interpretation must be cautious because the data for July are not yet consolidated”the agency said.

Whooping cough, a highly contagious bacterial disease, is often benign but can cause serious respiratory and neurological complications, sometimes fatal in babies. Since the beginning of the year, 20 children have died from whooping cough, according to this latest report. By the end of June, this figure stood at 14 deaths. The agency also counted eight adult deaths, partly linked to whooping cough. For these people, all aged over 50, the disease is not considered to be the primary cause of death.

France, like many other countries, has been experiencing a resurgence of whooping cough for several months, in a context marked by the resurgence of many other infectious diseases such as measles. Doctors regret that vaccination against whooping cough is not yet systematic enough among infants (for whom it is mandatory). Especially since the vaccine has been recommended for several years from pregnancy, in order to immediately immunize the newborn.