pertussis outbreak

A pertussis outbreak occurs when there is a sudden increase in cases of whooping cough, a highly contagious respiratory disease caused by bacteria. It spreads through coughs or sneezes, especially among unvaccinated or under-vaccinated populations. Symptoms typically start with cold-like signs, followed by severe coughing fits that can interfere with breathing and feeding in infants. Outbreaks happen when the bacteria find enough susceptible people to infect, often due to lapses in vaccination coverage. Preventing pertussis relies on maintaining high vaccination rates and early treatment with antibiotics to reduce spread and complications.