2023-11-21 15:43:49
Dusseldorf. There are currently increasing cases of whooping cough in Denmark. The number of infections has been rising sharply since May and is now so high that the responsible authorities are talking regarding a nationwide epidemic. The Baltic Sea island of Funen is considered particularly affected. The CRM Center for Travel Medicine in Düsseldorf announced this on Tuesday and points out that vaccination protection should also be checked before traveling abroad.
Over 1,000 pertussis cases
In October, the number of reported pertussis cases in Denmark was 1,131, more than ten times higher than usual (80-100 cases). The outbreak in Denmark mainly affects young people between the ages of 10 and 19. “Such an epidemic increase in the number of infections occurs every four to six years,” says Professor Tomas Jelinek, scientific director of the CRM.
Vaccination protection is not sufficient
The pertussis vaccination is one of the standard vaccinations in Germany and Denmark, but vaccination protection in the population is not sufficient to completely prevent outbreaks, the report continues. Immunity lasts 4 to 12 years following vaccination and 4 to 20 years following a whooping cough.
In general, all people who work in health, care or community facilities should have their pertussis vaccination refreshed every ten years. (eb)
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