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Pertussis

Pertussis is also known as whooping cough. It is a highly infectious bacterial disease involving the respiratory tract. It is caused by a bacterium (Bordetella pertussis or Bordetella Parapertussis ) that is found in the mouth, nose and throat of an infected person. 

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Facts

Pertussis, also known as whooping cough, is a highly contagious acute respiratory infection, caused by the bacterium Bordetella pertussis.

Threats and outbreaks

Disease threats and outbreaks reports; Communicable disease threats report, Risk assessments.

Surveillance and disease data

Scientific advice

Systematic reviews, expert opinions and public health guidance on pertussis

Microbiology

ECDC promotes the performance of external quality assessment (EQA) schemes, in which laboratories are sent simulated clinical specimens or bacterial isolates for testing by routine or reference laboratory methods.

Prevention and control

The most important way to prevent pertussis is through complete immunisation.

Latest outputs

Publication

External quality assessment for the detection of Bordetella pertussis by PCR, 2018

External quality assessment -

Peer-Reviewed Publication

Improvement in serological diagnosis of pertussis by external quality assessment

Jan 2019

Peer-Reviewed Publication

Beyond morbidity and mortality: The burden of infectious diseases on healthcare services

Jan 2019

Peer-Reviewed Publication

Quantifying outcome misclassification in multi-database studies: The case study of pertussis in the ADVANCE project

Jan 2019

Publication

Pertussis - Annual Epidemiological Report for 2016

Surveillance report -

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