Key Points

• The situation in Occitanie is part of a national and European context marked by a resurgence of pertussis at a high intensity level that has continued over the past few months, following very low circulation from 2020 to 2022.

• The number of emergency room visits for suspected pertussis has stabilized at a high level over the past 4 weeks. These visits primarily involve children (those under 15 and under 1 year of age account for 43% and 29% of visits, respectively, since the beginning of 2024), with the highest hospitalization rate among those under 1 year of age (71%)

• The number of suspected pertussis cases seen by the region’s four SOS Médecins associations (Montpellier, Toulouse, Nîmes, and Perpignan) has stabilized at a high level, ranging from 30 to 45 cases per week over the past four weeks.

• In July 2024, the positivity rate for pertussis PCR tests remained stable in July compared to June, according to data from three laboratories (Biomnis and Cerba).

• The number of reports to the Occitanie Regional Health Agency (ARS) by healthcare professionals regarding isolated or clustered cases of pertussis has stabilized over the past 5 weeks. Since early 2024, these reports have involved nearly all departments.

• Vaccination coverage with the hexavalent vaccine among infants born in 2022 and aged 21 months who received 3 doses of the vaccine was over 91% in Occitanie, close to the national level.