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Pertussis--United States, January 1992-June 1995
Insights
Pertussis (whooping cough) incidence declined significantly after DTP vaccination began in 1949. However, pertussis cases have cyclically increased since the early 1980s, necessitating ongoing surveillance.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
- Vaccinology
Background:
- Pertussis (whooping cough) caused significant infant and child morbidity and mortality before widespread vaccination.
- The highest reported pertussis cases (approx. 260,000) and deaths (approx. 9000) occurred in 1934 and 1923, respectively.
- Widespread use of diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis (DTP) vaccine after 1949 led to a historical low in pertussis incidence by 1976.
Purpose of the Study:
- To summarize national pertussis surveillance data from January 1992 through June 1995.
- To assess the effectiveness of pertussis vaccination in the United States during this period.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from CDC's National Public Health Surveillance System (NPHSS) and Supplementary Pertussis Surveillance System (SPSS).
- Employed vaccination coverage data from CDC's National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) for effectiveness assessment.
Main Results:
- Cyclical increases in reported pertussis incidence have been observed since the early 1980s, with peaks in 1983, 1986, 1990, and 1993.
- Surveillance data from 1992-1995 are summarized to evaluate current trends.
Conclusions:
- Despite historical success, pertussis remains a concern due to resurgent cyclical outbreaks.
- Ongoing monitoring and vaccination program evaluation are crucial for controlling pertussis transmission.
Abstract:
Pertussis was a major cause of morbidity and mortality among infants and children in the United States during the prevaccine era (i.e., before the mid-1940s). Since pertussis became a nationally reportable disease in 1922, the highest number of pertussis cases (approximately 260,000) was reported in 1934; the highest number of pertussis-related deaths (approximately 9000) occurred in 1923. Following the licensure of whole-cell pertussis vaccine combined with diphtheria and tetanus toxoids (DTP) in 1949 and the widespread use of DTP among infants and children, the incidence of reported pertussis declined to a historical low of 1010 cases in 1976 (Figure 1). However, since the early 1980s, reported pertussis incidence has increased cyclically with peaks occurring in 1983, 1986, 1990, and 1993 (1-3). This report summarizes national surveillance data for pertussis from January 1992 through June 1995 from CDC's National Public Health Surveillance System (NPHSS) and Supplementary Pertussis Surveillance System (SPSS) and assesses the effectiveness of pertussis vaccination in the United States during this period using vaccination coverage data from CDC's National Health Interview Survey (NHIS).