Three infants died of whooping cough in Italy

Massimo Andreoni, professor of Infectious Diseases at the University of Rome ‘Tor Vergata’ and scientific director of the Italian Society of Tropical Infectious Diseases (SIMIT), expressed concern over the deaths of three infants from whooping cough in Italy. Pertussis poses a significant health risk for infants and young children, with the potential to cause severe complications such as pneumonia and convulsions. Andreoni recalled that, as a result of the implementation of vaccination programmes, Italy had achieved a significant reduction in whooping cough mortality. Nevertheless, the rise in cases among unvaccinated individuals underscores the necessity to reframe the discourse on vaccination as a public health concern. The disease, caused by the bacterium Bordetella pertussis, can be prevented through vaccination; however, immunity may decline over time, potentially leading to cases even among adults. A reluctance to vaccinate contributes to the spread of the disease, as an insufficient number of vaccinated individuals leaves the population’s immune system less protected.