Cough can kill babies, mums told

Health experts are urging pregnant women to get vaccinated for whooping cough, amid fears the national outbreak could last years and affect thousands more people.

Whooping cough (pertussis) is caused by the bacterium Bordetella pertussis and is spread by coughing and sneezing. Highly contagious, it can cause pneumonia, seizures, brain damage and death in babies.

On December 1, the Ministry of Health declared a national outbreak with 1300 cases reported since January 1 last year. Since, another 800 cases have been identified.

The last outbreak in 2011-2013 infected more than 11,000 people. Dr Anusha Ganeshalingham, of Starship children’s hospital, said 38 infants were admitted to the ICU with whooping cough during the outbreak, compared to one to four per year normally. Three infants died.

Since April 2017, Starship ICU has had three cases admitted, with one severe.

Pertussis symptoms in babies include high temperature, runny nose, sneezing and coughing, then coughing fits followed by a characteristic “whoop” sound.

The Ministry of Health says pregnant women should get immunised between 28-38 weeks. Babies under six weeks can’t be immunised, but the mother’s antibodies pass through the placenta to protect them in the first few months of life.

Dr Helen Petousis-Harris, a senior lecturer in primary health care at the University of Auckland, said Kiwis were ignorant about the disease.

“It is critical that babies and pregnant mothers are immunised to provide a viable defence to the disease.”