The Netherlands has experienced its largest outbreak of whooping cough, or pertussis, since 2012. New research from the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) shows that 6.3% of the population became infected over a two-year period. While most cases were mild or asymptomatic, infection rates were significantly higher among children.
The study found that 35% of children aged between 6 and 18 were infected between late 2022 and late 2024. Of those infected in this age group, 16% suffered from a cough lasting more than two weeks. Researchers believe the sharp rise occurred because the bacterium hardly spread during the coronavirus pandemic. Measures such as social distancing, face masks, and school closures effectively paused the transmission of the disease.
RIVM researchers tracked 418 participants across the country, ranging in age from 2 to 87. These individuals provided blood samples five times over two years to measure their antibody levels. These antibodies indicate recent infection and provide protection against the disease.
The data revealed that children aged 6 to 12 had the lowest antibody levels before the outbreak. This is typically because their last vaccination occurs around age 4, and immunity fades over time. In response to these findings, the booster jab was moved from age 4 to age 5, starting in 2025, to provide longer protection.
Health experts noted that while current vaccines are effective at preventing severe illness, they do not entirely stop people from catching or passing on the bacterium. With vaccination rates declining, the RIVM emphasises the importance of monitoring the disease. The findings also suggest a need for new vaccines that better prevent transmission and infection in the future.
@Rivm | NEWS BRAINPORT
