Spike in whooping cough cases prompts urgent vaccination call

Parents and caregivers are urged to ensure children are fully vaccinated following a sharp increase in whooping cough cases since the start of the year. The National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) confirmed that 161 cases of pertussis, commonly known as whooping cough, were reported between January 1 and February 22, 2026. Pertussis is a highly contagious respiratory infection caused by the bacteriumBordetella pertussis.

It is classified as a notifiable medical condition under the National Health Act (Act No. 61 of 2003). The institute said the figures point to ongoing transmission and require close monitoring and strengthened public health measures, including improved uptake of routine childhood and maternal vaccinations.

Parents and caregivers of children under 12 years are encouraged to ensure that children are up to date with all routine vaccinations, including booster doses, and to seek medical attention promptly if symptoms develop. In 2025, a total of 614 confirmed pertussis cases were recorded through the country’s Notifiable Medical Conditions surveillance system. Although infections rose toward the end of last year, they remained below the peak levels seen during 2022 and 2023.

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More than half of last year’s cases, 56% (344 out of 614), occurred in children under five. Infants aged six months and younger accounted for nearly a third (29%, 175 cases), highlighting the vulnerability of babies who are too young to be fully immunised. The institution also stressed that all pregnant women receive a single dose of a pertussis-containing vaccine during pregnancy to protect their babies in the first six months of life.

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