Whooping cough and measles on the rise in Flanders
The number of whooping cough cases in Flanders has almost doubled compared to the annual average. Moreover, the number of measles infections has tripled, new figures from the Department of Care show. Experts are concerned about the rising numbers.
In Flanders, 1,885 cases of whooping cough have been registered this year up to 7 August. This is almost double the annual average between 2017 and 2019. Antwerp and Flemish Brabant exceed the mark of more than 500 infections.
"The peak of the number of infections was in May, but in June and July the number of infections remains at a high level," said Joris Moonens, spokesperson for the Department of Care.
"The problem is that hardly anyone remembers how serious the disease can be"
“These figures worry me," says virologist Marc Van Ranst of KU Leuven. "But this is not an isolated phenomenon. Across Europe the disease is on the rise. This is partly due to vaccination fatigue."
The number of measles infections is also rising dramatically. In all of 2023, there were 35 cases in Flanders. This year, until 7 August, there are already 111 cases. Flemish Brabant has the most infections with 49, followed by East Flanders with 31. "We see most infections in the age group of four to nine years and in adults aged 25 to 44," Moonens says. The majority of those infected have not been vaccinated.
"The problem is that hardly anyone remembers how serious the disease can be. Young parents are vaccinated, grandparents are too old to remember. But for both measles and whooping cough, we have vaccines to defend ourselves against these diseases," Van Ranst says.
#FlandersNewsService | A woman prepares a syringe at a vaccination point against measles © PHOTO SCHNEYDER MENDOZA / AFP
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