Two-month-old baby dies as highly contagious infection wreaks havoc in Australia with one state recording 23 times more cases than last year

An unprecedented whooping cough epidemic is spreading across Australia, alarming health authorities as they struggle to control rising infection rates after the death of a two-month-old baby.

Nearly 42,000 cases of the highly contagious disease were recorded in 2024 through November 8, according to the National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System.

The baby died in Queensland, which has recorded at least 12,500 infections in 2024, up from 549 cases at the same time last year.

The youngest are most at risk, with children under 15 representing 60 percent of all cases in 2024.

“This epidemic is the worst year on record for whooping cough in Queensland,” Chief Health Officer John Gerrard told AAP.

‘The rise in cases we have seen since February this year continues unabated… it is getting even worse.’

The epidemic is caused by a combination of factors, including the natural disease cycle of the deadly cough that peaks every three to five years, together with the immune deficiency resulting from isolation during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The most worrying factor, however, is the declining vaccination rate.

Queensland has recorded a huge spike in whooping cough, with the number of cases almost 23 times higher than last year

According to data from Queensland Health, 70.7 per cent of pregnant women were vaccinated against cough in 2023, up from 77.2 per cent in 2020.

“We want maternal vaccination rates to be around 90 per cent… this decline is very worrying,” Dr Gerrard said.

“People may not realize that this epidemic is still ongoing.

‘It is crucial that mothers are informed so they can make the best decisions to protect their children.’

Whooping cough can be life-threatening for babies and young children.

Babies especially can be vulnerable to serious complications such as pneumonia, seizures, and brain damage caused by prolonged coughing fits.

The disease is mainly spread through respiratory droplets or direct contact with infected people.

Thirty-seven babies under six months have been admitted to Queensland hospitals this year, compared to fourteen in 2023.

Vaccination rates for whooping cough have fallen among pregnant women in Queensland

Maternal vaccination during pregnancy protects both mother and baby, reducing the risk of infection for newborns by 75 percent until they can be immunized at six weeks.

Vaccination rates among pregnant women in regional Queensland have fallen below 65 percent in several areas.

Rates also fell among one- and two-year-olds, by around four percent between December 2018 and September 2024.

Whooping cough vaccinations are recommended as part of a five-dose schedule for young children, with boosters for adolescents and adults every five to 10 years.

Additional vaccines are available for people over 65 who are at higher risk for severe disease.

The low vaccination rates reflect global trends and officials around the world are reevaluating their vaccination communications.

“The mantra in public health now is that we should focus on informing rather than persuading,” Dr Gerrard said.

Paul Griffin, director of infectious diseases at the Mater Hospital in Queensland, said a reduction in public vigilance to prevent disease was a contributing factor.

“We are doing the least we have done in years to prevent the transmission of infectious diseases,” he told ABC Radio.

“If you have symptoms, get tested and isolate until symptoms subside.

“When we did those things really well, we didn’t see a lot of cockle cough.”