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15th December 2023
11:01am GMT
A warning has been shared with Irish parents as cases of whooping cough have risen.
The HSE reassured parents that the rise in cases is only slight this year.
"To date in 2023, 14 cases of pertussis have been notified to HPSC, this is an increase compared to 2022 but much lower than our pre-pandemic notifications," the HSE told HerFamily.ie.
Six of the 14 cases reported to date this year occurred in children under 1 year of age.
Four of the 14 cases reported to date this year occurred in children under 6 months – in all four of these cases, the mother did not receive pertussis vaccine in pregnancy.
"While we haven’t seen an increase in pertussis in Ireland, ongoing surges are being seen elsewhere in Europe, and it is likely Ireland could also experience an increase in cases."
Parents have been told to get their children vaccinated against whooping cough ahead of the likely increase.
Whooping cough is a highly infectious bacterial disease involving the respiratory tract.
Early symptoms include sneezing, runny nose, a mild cough, and low-grade fever.
Within two weeks, the cough will become more severe and an episode of rapid coughs. The rapid coughing will then be followed by a high-pitched whoop.
In Ireland, the pertussis vaccine is recommended during each pregnancy. The vaccine is recommended between 16 and 36 weeks of pregnancy.
When babies are two, four, and six months of age they are recommended to receive a 6 in 1 vaccine which offers protection against pertussis. Vaccines offered in pregnancy and to babies are available for free from your GP.
Children will also be offered a booster dose of the pertussis vaccine during junior infants.
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