Health authorities in the Czech Republic reported a surge in whooping cough cases on Monday, with the fast-growing outbreak claiming the lives of three individuals. According to the State Institute of Public Health, the country of 10.9 million people has recorded 7,888 cases of respiratory illness this year.
The latest figures reveal a concerning trend, with 1,494 new cases registered last week alone, marking the highest weekly growth in infections this year. Currently, 183 individuals are hospitalized due to the illness. This surge in whooping cough cases is reportedly the worst since 1959, when vaccinations against the disease were first introduced, as indicated by official health records.
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Despite vaccination being mandatory in the Czech Republic, some individuals refuse to comply. Chief Public Health Officer Pavla Svrcinova highlighted that teenagers are particularly vulnerable, often missing recommended revaccinations at ages 10-11 due to parental neglect. Of the total number of cases, 5,808 individuals were vaccinated, according to the state institute’s website.
Tragically, three individuals succumbed to the disease this year, including a 62-year-old man, an 84-year-old woman, and a newborn, all of whom had underlying health issues. The unexpected surge in whooping cough cases contradicts previous expectations of health authorities, who believed the outbreak was nearing its peak last month.
The global health community attributes the rise in whooping cough cases not only to factors within the Czech Republic but also to the global COVID-19 pandemic. The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) suggested that decreased circulation during the pandemic, coupled with suboptimal vaccination rates in certain groups, could be contributing to the current increase.
Kate O’Brien, head of vaccines and immunization at the World Health Organization, warned that declining vaccination rates for diseases such as whooping cough, measles, and polio create conditions for other serious vaccine-preventable diseases to resurface.
