The decline and resurgence of pertussis in the US
Epidemics·
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.epidem.2011.10.001
- PMID
- 22094341
- PMCID
- —
- OpenAlex
- W2127585938
- Study type
- Journal article
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Article type
- journal-article
- Integrity
- current
Why this research matters now
Documenting long-term epidemiological shifts aids policymakers in evaluating immunization strategies and anticipating future disease burdens.
Structured evidence summary
Research question
What temporal and geographic patterns characterize pertussis case notifications across the United States over several decades?
Study design
This retrospective observational analysis evaluated aggregated state-level notification records spanning fifty-nine years to assess epidemiological trends.
Population and setting
The investigation focused on multiple American states utilizing national public health reporting databases.
Main findings
Outbreak waves emerged asynchronously across regions over approximately thirty years, yet overall data align with two primary stages: a pre-1970s decrease followed by a widespread national increase that accounted for nearly ninety percent of case fluctuations. A coordinated reduction beginning in 2005 has persisted across numerous major jurisdictions. The authors propose that pathogen adaptation, diminishing host protection, ongoing adult circulation, and population shifts better account for these shifts than documentation practices or recent vaccine formulations.
Public-health relevance
Documenting long-term epidemiological shifts aids policymakers in evaluating immunization strategies and anticipating future disease burdens.
Important limitations
The analysis depends entirely on aggregated notification metrics rather than individual clinical diagnoses, which may limit precision regarding actual infection levels. This summary is restricted to the supplied single-article abstract and metadata, requiring the original paper for decision-grade interpretation.
GIDS interpretation
This publication offers historical context on national pertussis trends and may be cataloged under subjects concerning infectious disease monitoring and immunization policy. It functions as background reference material for understanding long-term epidemiological patterns rather than reflecting current outbreak activity.
Related GIDS surveillance
Literature context does not validate, explain, or change a surveillance signal. Exact and contextual relationships are shown separately.
Evidence relationships
This article has 14 auditable classifier relationships to diseases, places, topics, and study design.