Health agencies have confirmed today that New Zealand is now in the early stages of a Whooping Cough epidemic, with a nationally coordinated response now in place. 

Whooping cough (Pertussis) cases across the motu have been closely monitored over recent months, with today’s announcement informed by the recommendation of health officials who met yesterday to review the latest national and international trends in the disease.

With case numbers consistently increasing for several weeks across the country, numbers are now at a level that meets the threshold for a national epidemic to be declared. 

Latest ESR reporting shows that following spikes in May, June and July, whooping cough cases have been steadily increasing again since September. In the past four weeks (19 October – 15 November) there were 263 cases – the highest number of cases over a four-week period to date for all of 2024. 

Director of Public Health, Dr Nicholas Jones, said that a number of countries are experiencing record levels of Pertussis, possibly due to lower infection rates during the COVID-19 pandemic.

He said New Zealand should also be ready to see similarly high levels of cases over the next 12 months or more and, as in previous epidemics, Māori and Pacific pēpi will be most affected. 

“Our main concern with this epidemic is the risk of severe illness among babies either too young to be immunised or whose immunisations are delayed. 

“Our key objective is to protect pēpi through on time vaccination and immunisation during pregnancy.   

“Even in countries with very high levels of immunisation, epidemics still occur every few years, but the numbers of babies who get very sick is much lower when mothers have been vaccinated during pregnancy, and when pēpi are vaccinated on time,” Dr Jones said. 

Dr Susan Jack, National Clinical Director, Protection, at Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora, said the National Public Health Service is well prepared to manage the epidemic, with a national response team stood up to coordinate and support activity across public health services. 

“Our last major outbreak of pertussis was in 2017, but they can last for months and potentially for a year or more, so this will be a marathon, not a sprint.” 

Dr Jack said healthcare professionals should remain vigilant for people presenting with symptoms and to continue to promote on-time vaccinations to protect vulnerable groups.  

“Whooping cough is a highly contagious illness that can be particularly dangerous for newborn babies, and older adults, and in some cases it can be fatal.

“Sadly, three babies died from whooping cough last year, and we want to avoid that happening again,” Dr Jack said. 

Around 50 per cent of pēpi who catch whooping cough before the age of 12 months need hospitalisation and 1 or 2 in 100 of those hospitalised pēpi die from the infection. 

“The best protection for infants is for their mother to be vaccinated during pregnancy. 

“The antenatal vaccination for pertussis is safe and free.

“This is most effective when given from 16 weeks of pregnancy – and should be done during each pregnancy to provide the best protection for each baby,” Dr Jack said. 

“Our main focus is to encourage and support as many of our hāpu māmā to prioritise getting their pregnancy immunisations as soon as possible.

“That will be supported by social marketing and campaign activities, as well as regional public health services and providers continuing to offer whooping cough vaccinations, which are free for children under 18.”  

Childhood vaccinations to protect against whooping cough are needed at ages 6 weeks, 3 months and 5 months, and again at 4 years.

A further booster is given at age 11 years (school year 7), and it is important that children are kept up to date with all of their vaccinations to provide the best protection for themselves and their wider whānau.

But even if tamariki have missed their vaccinations, it’s not too late to catch up.  

For adults, New Zealand has a combined pertussis and tetanus vaccine.

Adults are eligible for one free booster from age 45 (if they have not had four previous tetanus doses) and can get one free from age 65. 

For more information, or help to book your vaccination, call the Vaccination Healthline free on 0800 28 29 26 (8.30am-5.00pm Monday to Friday) or visit info.health.nz/bookavaccine