Whooping Cough is a major public health threat

Australia is in the grip of a whooping cough epidemic, the first since the last nationwide outbreak which peaked in 2015. Epidemics of whooping cough occur in cycles and may persist for several years.  

Other parts of the world are also experiencing outbreaks of whooping cough, including the United Kingdom where eight infant deaths caused by whooping cough were recorded between January and May 2024.