In Alta, the health service has now gone out and urged people to get vaccinated. They notice that well at the vaccine office in Alta. – Our intake is increasing. There are a lot of people who contact us and want an updated vaccination status, says department head Tone Dervo at the health center and school health service in Alta municipality. – We have published information on the website, and information has also been given to nurseries and schools that there is an increased incidence of whooping cough, says head of department Tone Dervo at the health center and school health service in Alta municipality. Photo: Ulrik W. Haug / news Difficult to quantify From January to September this year, over 7,000 people have been diagnosed with whooping cough in Norway. In 2023, there were 1,200 cases. This is shown by figures from the Norwegian Institute of Public Health. In Troms this year, 94 people have been diagnosed with whooping cough, while the figure for Finnmark is 24. And the vast majority of cases have been discovered in recent weeks. Anne Davidsen, chief municipal doctor in Alta, confirms that they are noticing an increase in the number of cases. – It is difficult to say how many cases we have as of today. It’s not like with corona, where we had more or less real-time updates. This time we have been notified in recent weeks in some cases. There are not many individual cases that we know of, but we are seeing an increase. – It is difficult to say how many cases we have as of today. It’s not like with corona, where we had more or less real-time updates, says municipal chief Anne Davidsen in Alta. Photo: Ulrik W. Haug / news Little during the pandemic, big growth this year Margrethe Greve Isdal, senior physician at the Institute of Public Health, says the increase was expected, but not to such a large extent. During the pandemic, there were few cases. – There were 38 cases in 2021 and 44 in 2022. Then it has risen to over 7,000 cases so far this year. Whooping cough is a contagious respiratory infection that can be prevented with a vaccine. The symptoms are a runny nose, cough and possibly a fever for a week. Followed by violent coughing fits and often vomiting. – We knew it would come, says Isdal A large increase in the number of cases of whooping cough worries the Norwegian Institute of Public Health, because it can be a dangerous disease for the very youngest children. Informs kindergartens and schools. In an attempt to stop the outbreak, the municipal health service in Alta has taken action, says Tone Dervo. – Kindergarten staff are in close contact with infants and toddlers. Infants and young children are the most dangerous for this. It is very uncomfortable if they get whooping cough. We have published information on the website, and information has also been given to nurseries and schools that there is an increased incidence of whooping cough. The municipal health service also encourages people to brush up on the vaccine. Senior doctor Margrethe Greve Isdal at FHI says the increase in whooping cough was expected, but not to such a large extent as is the case this year. Photo: Trygve Indrelid / DAM Vaccinated people can also be infected Senior doctor Isdal at the Norwegian Institute of Public Health says that people should be on the lookout for signs of whooping cough. – It often starts quite non-specifically. There may be cold symptoms, a stuffy nose, and you may have a slight cough – before the severe coughing fits start after a week. Especially at the beginning, it can be difficult to determine the disease, she says. Those who have been vaccinated may have atypical symptoms. The municipal health service in Alta encourages people to vaccinate against whooping cough. Photo: Marita Andersen / news – That means you don’t get the strong cough, but you can still have an infection. It applies as otherwise; if you are sick, you should stay at home and practice good hand and cough hygiene, she says. If you are so ill that you see a doctor, it may be a good idea to get tested when you know that there is an increase in whooping cough in Finnmark. Published 07.11.2024, at 07.22
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Strong increase in whooping cough in Norway – from 44 cases in 2022 to 7,000 in 2024 – news Troms and Finnmark
