An epidemic of whooping cough is currently affecting France, and is worrying the health authorities. As specified Public Health Francethis contagious disease evolves in “cycles of recrudescence”, every three to five years. In our departments, contaminations have exploded since February 2024, particularly in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region.
402 reports since February in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
The Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Regional Health Agency, in its latest update on the situationnotes a strong growth of the disease at the beginning of 2024. With 402 reports (suspected or confirmed cases), including 351 since May, the region is observing a surge in whooping cough cases. While in 2023, only 11 cases had been recorded by the ARS AuRA.
In our departments, Savoie and Haute-Savoie are particularly affected. Indeed, according to the ARS, the two departments have counted 109 cases since the beginning of the year. In addition, Drôme has recorded 37, Ardèche 40, Ain 17 and Isère 45.
This phenomenon is also observed on a European scale. Indeed, the number of whooping cough cases in the first three months of 2024 (32,037) is higher than the whole of 2023 (25,130). And as Public Health France specifies, concerning the whooping cough epidemic, its scale and duration “are not predictable.”
