Focus Report Pertusis in the ASEAN Region

Pertussis, also known as whooping cough, is a bacterial infection primarily affecting the respiratory tract, characterized by severe coughing fits that may include a distinctive "whooping" sound. The bacterium produces toxins that damage the respiratory lining and can lead to serious complications, especially in young infants, such as pneumonia, apnea (pauses in breathing), encephalopathy (brain dysfunction), rib fractures, and in severe cases, death. Although pertussis is vaccine-preventable, immunity requires a full primary series plus booster doses, and unvaccinated or under-vaccinated individuals remain at high risk for severe disease and complications. During infancy, pertussis can be particularly dangerous, with about onethird of infected infants needing hospitalization. Infants under 12 months, especially those younger than 6 months or whose mothers were not vaccinated during pregnancy, are most vulnerable to severe outcomes like apnea and pneumonia. Older children, adolescents, and adults typically experience milder symptoms, often without the classic whooping cough, but can still transmit the infection. Globally, vaccination programs including pertussis-containing vaccines have significantly reduced incidence and mortality. Ensuring high vaccine coverage and timely boosters remains critical to controlling pertussis, with regional efforts such as those by ASEAN countries aligning with World Health Organization (WHO) goals to eliminate vaccine-preventable diseases including pertussis by 2026, as outlined in WHO regional vaccine implementation plans. This report provides an overview of pertussis, covering its transmission, symptoms, treatment, and complications, along with data on number of reported cases and vaccine coverages. It also analyzes the regional situation within ASEAN and highlights the importance of surveillance, rapid response, and public health initiatives to reduce the burden of pertussis across vulnerable populations.