The General Directorate of Public Health of the Ministry of Health of the regional Government has confirmed an outbreak of whooping cough with 124 affected in Guadalajara.
The outbreak has arisen primarily in schools, since there are only six adults among those affected. Likewise, there are two cases of schools in the Community of Madrid, as reported by the Government of Castilla-La Mancha.
In all cases, a contact study has been carried out - family, school and extracurricular -, chemoprophylaxis has been recommended and vaccination completed if appropriate.
Likewise, an information note has been sent to educational centers and centers where extracurricular activities are carried out, as well as to parents.
Whooping cough is an infectious disease caused by a highly contagious respiratory bacteria, Bordetella pertussis, which poses a serious risk to the lives of infants if they are not vaccinated. The infection can be serious in unvaccinated, immunosuppressed infants or pregnant women.
Symptoms develop in two phases. The first, which usually lasts one or two weeks, can be easily confused with a cold or other respiratory infections, as it causes nasal congestion, low fever and occasional mild cough.
From the second week onwards, the most serious symptoms may appear, especially rapid, violent and uncontrollable coughing attacks.
Health authorities insist on the importance of vaccination as a key strategy to protect against this type of disease, as well as complying with the instructions provided by Public Health for cases and contacts.
Experts have confirmed an increase in whooping cough cases after the COVID-19 pandemic, both in Spain and internationally.
