Majority of whooping cough cases detected in GP

Surveillance programmes detect seven Omicron variants.

Sipho Jack

December 11, 2023

The national institute of Communicable Diseases (NICD) has detected 66 cases of Bordetella pertussis or whooping cough in Gauteng.

The NICD published the information in its final weekly respiratory illness report for the year this week.

Of the 208 cases, Gauteng accounts for 66% of the detected disease this year to date.

“From 2023 to date 208 cases of Bordetella pertussis have been detected, of which 32% (66/208) were in Gauteng, 21% (44/208) North West, 16% (34/208) Mpumalanga, 14% (29/208) KwaZulu-Natal, 13% (28/208) Western Cape, and 3% (7/208) Eastern Cape,” the institute said.

To date 208 cases of Bordetella pertussis have been detected, with the following distribution: GP 32%, NW 21%, MP 16%, KZN 14%, WC 13%, and EC 3%. Read the final 2023 respiratory pathogens report here: https://t.co/3a6wikcGgB pic.twitter.com/17SnQ9p9cW

— NICD (@nicd_sa) December 11, 2023

According to the NICD, the bordetellae are small, gram-negative, aerobic coccobacilli and can produce several virulence factors, including pertussis toxin, adenylate cyclase toxin, filamentous hemagglutinin and hemolysin.

Bordetella pertussis causes whooping cough (pertussis), an acute respiratory infection marked by severe, spasmodic coughing.

“Leukocytosis with lymphocytosis is also common during this phase of the illness. Dangerous complications are bronchopneumonia and acute encephalopathy. Bordetella pertussis can cause a milder form of pertussis,” the institution said.

The institution’s surveillance programmes also detected 506 Covid-19 cases.

It revealed that 99% belonged to the Omicron variant.

The institute said its next respiratory pathogens report will be published in week starting January 22 next year but it would continue to monitor trends and report more frequently if necessary.

“The 2023 influenza season ended in week 27 (week starting 10 July 2023), with sporadic cases of influenza A and influenza B detected from week 35 (week starting 28 August 2023).”