Samoa’s Ministry of Health is reporting a worrying rise in whooping cough cases, particularly among young children. Statistics indicate that 34 out of the total cases, constituting 68 percent, involve children under one year of age.

The latest surveillance report reveals eight confirmed cases and 46 suspected ones, all identified on Upolu island, with a gender breakdown of 56 percent female and 44 percent male. Notably, an epidemic status for whooping cough was declared in Samoa on November 28, as the disease began to spread following several years of minimal activity.

Tagaloa Dr. Robert Thomsen, the island’s deputy director of health, noted that the immunization rate for whooping cough is considered “not too bad.” This indicates that there might still be a chance to mitigate the outbreak with adequate vaccination efforts and public health initiatives.

As Samoa faces this challenge, it’s essential for the Ministry of Health to reinforce vaccination campaigns, particularly for young children, to manage the outbreak effectively. With the right measures in place, there is hope for control over this epidemic and a return to low activity levels in the future.

In summary, the rise in whooping cough cases in Samoa, especially among young children, has prompted health authorities to take action. With a relatively decent immunization rate, there is potential for improvement and containment of the epidemic.