Pertussis - Annual Epidemiological Report for 2024

The notification rate in 2024 was 54.9 cases per 100 000 population, which was an over eight-fold increase from 6.7 per 100 000 population in 2023, and a 78-fold increase from 0.7 per 100 000 population in 2022.

Infants below the age of one year and adolescents between 10 and 14 years were the most affected age groups, with notification rates of 318.5 and 204.2 per 100 000 population. Individuals aged ≥ 15 years accounted for 53% of all cases reported.

The sharp rise in pertussis incidence likely reflects the accumulation of susceptible individuals following prolonged COVID‑19 control measures, including unvaccinated or under‑vaccinated people, waning immunity, and reduced natural immune boosting during the pandemic. In addition, the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the improvement in testing capacity in many countries and affected testing practices.

The clinical presentation of pertussis in adolescents and adults may be mild and is often not recognised, which contributes to bacterial circulation in the population. This poses a transmission risk to infants who are too young to have completed the primary pertussis vaccination series.

The objectives of pertussis prevention and control include the prevention of severe disease and deaths among infants younger than six months old through the implementation of well-adapted vaccination programmes. As of April 2026, 26 countries have implemented maternal immunisation programmes, while 25 countries introduced booster doses for adolescents (10 to 19 years), and 10 countries recommended booster doses for adults (18 years and above).