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Vaccine Preventable Diseases

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Pertussis (Whooping Cough)

Florida Health

Disease Control

March Key Points

46 Cases
0 new
outbreaks
Average of 4
contacts per case
<1 year olds had
highest incidence
66% cases not up-to-date
or unknown vaccination status
A graph showing a summary of pertussis cases reported by month in 2020 as compared to the previous 5-year average. In March 2020, 46 cases of pertussis were reported, which is above the previous 5-year average.

The number of pertussis cases reported in March decreased from the previous month and was above the previous 5-year average. In general, more pertussis cases are reported during the summer months. Elevated case counts in 2020 may be due to a change in the case definition for pertussis; please see the last page for more information.

A map showing the previous 3-month average pertussis rates per 100,000 population. Counties with one or more cases reported in March are: Baker, Brevard, Broward, Citrus, Clay, Columbia, Miami-Dade, Escambia, Highlands, Hillsborough, Lake, Lee, Levy, Orange, Palm Beach, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, St. Johns, Sarasota, Sumter. Counties with a rate of 0.1-0.4 per 100,000 population are: Alachua, Brevard, Broward, Clay, Collier, Miami-Dade, Escambia, Hernando, Lee, Manatee, Orange, Osceola, Palm Beach, Pasco, Pinellas, St. Johns, Santa Rosa, Sarasota, Sumter. Counties with a rate of 0.5-1.6 per 100,000 population are: Baker, Citrus, Columbia, Highlands, Hillsborough, Lake, Levy, Marion, Martin, Polk, Putnam, Seminole. Counties with a rate of 1.7-2.9 per 100,000 population are: Taylor

The 46 pertussis cases in March were reported among the 21 counties outlined in black. From January 2020 through March 2020 the average county rate has varied throughout the state.

A graph showing a summary of the total number of pertussis cases reported by year with an emphasis on 2019. In total for each year there have been: 713 in 2014; 341 in 2015; 335 in 2016; 358 in 2017; 326 in 2018; 393 in 2019; and 148 in 2020.

From January 1, 2020 through March 31, 2020, 148 pertussis cases were reported in 38 counties.

Since 2015, the number of pertussis cases reported annually remained stable. In 2020, case counts were slightly higher than those seen during non-peak years at this time, as indicated by the white bars in the graph.

A graph showing a bar graph of total cases compared to household associated cases and outbreak associated cases for March 2020 and the previous 3-month average.

In March, 10 (22%) of 46 total pertussis cases were associated with transmission within households no cases were outbreak-associated. For most pertussis cases, exposure to other known cases is never identified, and they are not able to be linked to outbreaks.

No pertussis outbreaks were reported in March.

*Note: This page contains materials in the Portable Document Format (PDF). The free Acrobat Reader may be required to view these files.