Norway reports more than 500 pertussis cases in April, the most in a month since 2012
The Norwegian Institute of Public Health, or Folkehelseinstituttet (FHI) is monitoring the pertussis, or whooping cough situation in the country.
FHI reported 534 cases to the Reporting System for Infectious Diseases (MSIS) in April, which is 206 more than in March. This is the highest number of reported infections in a month since 2012. A total of 31 hospitalizations and no deaths have been reported so far in 2024.
In recent weeks, the incidence has been highest in Trøndelag, Akershus, Oslo and Innlandet.
In Norway, in recent months we have seen an increase in the incidence of whooping cough, with the highest incidence in young people. The same is reported from almost all European countries, says Margrethe Greve-Isdahl senior doctor at FHI.
The pertussis vaccine provides very good protection against severe pertussis disease. It is therefore important to follow the recommendations in the childhood vaccination programme. Adults are also recommended a refresher dose every 10 years to protect themselves against whooping cough, says Greve-Isdahl.
Norway has a high level of support for vaccines for children . In addition, pertussis vaccine for pregnant women can help protect the smallest infants. Norway introduced the offer of pertussis vaccine for pregnant women in May 2024.
FHI also recommends that adults take a booster vaccination against whooping cough, diphtheria, tetanus and polio every 10 years.
Pertussis is an endemic disease in the EU/EEA and worldwide. Every three to five years, larger epidemics are expected even with high vaccination converge.
After a few years of limited circulation in the EU/EEA, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, more than 25,000 cases of pertussis were reported in 2023, and more than 32,000 between January and March 2024.
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During 2023-24, in 17 EU/EEA countries, infants (those under the age of one year) represented the group with the highest reported incidence, whereas in six countries, the highest incidence is reported in adolescents 10-19 years. The majority of deaths occurred in infants.