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J Med Microbiol 56 (2007), 533-537; DOI: 10.1099/jmm.0.46741-0
© 2007 Society for General Microbiology
ISSN 1473-5644

Epidemiological shift in the prevalence of pertussis in Taiwan: implications for pertussis vaccination

Yu-Chi Lin1, Shu-Man Yao1, Jer-Jea Yan2, Ying-Yan Chen1, Chuen-Sheue Chiang1, Ho-Sheng Wu1 and Shu-Ying Li1

1 Research and Diagnostics Center, Centers for Disease Control, Taipei, Taiwan

2 The Fourth Division, Centers for Disease Control, Taipei, Taiwan

Correspondence
Shu-Ying Li
syl{at}cdc.gov.tw

Received 26 May 2006
Accepted 20 November 2006

In Taiwan, routine pertussis immunization has been implemented for more than 40 years and a low incidence of pertussis was maintained until an 80-fold increase in cases occurred in 1992. The unexpected increase emphasized the significance of pertussis. This study evaluated a total of 2452 reported cases of pertussis during 1993–2004 and surveillance data on incidence, age distribution and seasonality. The highest morbidity was in infants aged <1 year, and upward trends in the incidence of pertussis were significant for infants aged <1 year and adolescents aged 10–14 years. The highest mean number of cases was observed in August and upward trends were in colder months. This study indicates that the epidemiology of pertussis may have been changed by waning immunity in Taiwan. Increased surveillance activities, especially in older age groups, and additional booster doses of acellular pertussis vaccine for children aged 6–8 years and adolescents/young adults aged 15–20 years are necessary to control and prevent pertussis.

Abbreviations: DTP, diphtheria–tetanus–pertussis.






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