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Whooping Cough

Whooping cough is widespread in Australia and is one of the least controlled vaccine-preventable diseases. It is a highly contagious and affects people of all ages. 

Page last updated 28 July 2026

What you need to know about whooping cough

Whooping cough is widespread in Australia and is one of the least controlled vaccine-preventable diseases. It is a highly contagious and affects people of all ages.1

Below are some simple reasons to talk to your healthcare practitioner about pertussis, commonly known as whooping cough.

KNOW THE IMPACT

While often thought of as a disease in infants, approximately 50% of pertussis cases in Australia each year are in adults.4

  • Whooping cough can cause uncontrollable, severe and prolonged coughing attacks. Early symptoms can include a blocked or runny nose, sneezing, mild fever and cough. 2-4
  • Pertussis transmission most commonly occurs person-to-person through contact with respiratory droplets or by contact with airborne droplets of respiratory secretions. 5
  • One infected person can transmit whooping cough to as many as 5 unvaccinated people.2

 

KNOW THE RISKS

Infants who are too young to be fully immunized are at greatest risk of being hospitalized with pertussis.1

Adults are more likely to be infected with pertussis if you have a chronic lung conditions like asthma or COPD. 13-15

  • Adults with asthma have a 4x greater risk of whooping cough compared with people without asthma.15,16^
  • Adults with COPD have a 3.5x greater risk of whooping cough compared with those without COPD. 14,16^
  • People with lung conditions who contracted pertussis had to increase the use of their asthma or COPD medications*17

 

HELP PROTECT YOURSELF & THOSE AROUND YOU

Practicing good hygiene habits will help you reduce the risk of getting pertussis:

  • Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds
  • Use hand sanitiser if soap and water are not available
  • Avoid people who are sick or unwell

In addition, there are vaccines available for whooping cough. In Australia, the vaccination is given free via the National Immunisation Program to infants, children, adolescents and pregnant women. However the vaccine does not protect you for life and boosters may be required. The vaccine is given as a combination vaccine which protects against other diseases as well. 11

Talk to your health care practitioner about whooping cough and its prevention today.

Vaccine Hub offers general information only. Please see a healthcare professional for medical advice.

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Commonly asked questions

Sources & Citations

 

  1. The Australian Immunisation Handbook. Pertussis (whooping cough). Available at: Pertussis (whooping cough) | The Australian Immunisation Handbook (health.gov.au) (accessed 1 June 2026).
  2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Pertussis Clinical features. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/pertussis/clinical/features.html (accessed Jun 2026). 
  3. National Communicable Disease Surveillance Dashboard. Available at: Dashboard  · NINDSS Portal (health.gov.au) (accessed 1 June 2026).
  4. NCIRS. Pertussis vaccines for Australians factsheet. Available at:  Pertussis factsheet_3 March 2025.pdf (accessed Jun 2026).
  5. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Pertussis Complications. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/pertussis/about/complications.html (accessed Jun 2026).
  6. The Geography of Transport Systems. Basic Reproduction Number (R0) of Major Infectious Diseases. Available at: https://transportgeography.org/?page_id=20352 (accessed Jun 2026).
  7. Pimentel AM, et al. Braz J Infect Dis 2015;19(1):43–46.
  8. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Available at: Whooping Cough (Pertussis) | CDC. (accessed Jun 2026).
  9. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Pertussis Prevention. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/pertussis/about/prevention/index.html (accessed Jun 2026).
  10. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Pertussis Treatment. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/pertussis/clinical/treatment.html (accessed Jun 2026).
  11. Australian Government Department of Health. National Immunisation Program (NIP) Schedule from 1 November 2023. Available at: https://www.health.gov.au/resources/publications/national-immunisation-program-schedule?language=en
  12. Smartraveller.gov.au. Infectious diseases. Available at: Infectious diseases | Smartraveller (accessed Jun 2026)
  13. Jenkins VA, Savic M, Kandeil W. Pertussis in high-risk groups: an overview of the past quarter-century. Hum Vaccin Immunother. 2020;16(11):2609-2617
  14. Blasi F, Bonanni P, Braido F, et al. The unmet need for pertussis prevention in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in the Italian context. Hum Vaccin Immunother. 2020;16(2):340-348.
  15. Liu BC, McIntyre P, Kaldor JM, et al. Pertussis in older adults: prospective study of risk factors and morbidity.Clin Infect Dis. 2012;55(11):1450-1456.
  16. Buck P O, Meyers JL, Gordon L-D, et al. Economic burden of diagnosed pertussis among individuals with asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in the USA: an analysis of administrative claims. Epidemiol Infect. 2017;145:2109-2121.
  17. De Serres G, Shadmani R, Duval B, et al. Morbidity of pertussis in adolescents and adults. J Infect Dis. 2000;182(1):174-179.

MAT-AU-2601374-1.0 Date of Preparation July 2026

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