Whooping cough: death of two babies in Montpellier, in a context of an increase in cases

One month after a similar death in Nice, two infants under three months died from a severe form of whooping cough, Montpellier University Hospital. This tragedy comes after the alert from Public Health France, which reported on April 18 a significant increase in whooping cough in recent months in mainland France. The agency has identified around fifteen outbreaks of contagion in the first quarter of 2024, mainly in schools, daycares and nurseries, as well as family clusters, totaling 70 reported cases.

Younger children who are more fragile

With a reproduction number of 17, whooping cough is an extremely contagious respiratory infection. It causes coughing fits that can last for weeks without treatment. Those most at risk are babies under six months, as well as the elderly and pregnant women. Vaccination against whooping cough has been compulsory in France for infants since 2018, with injections at two and four months, followed by a booster at eleven months. Since 2022, the High Authority for Health (HAS) has also recommended this vaccination for pregnant women.

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