Pertussis, caused by Bordetella pertussis , remains a substantial public health threat despite long-standing vaccination programs. Widespread non-pharmaceutical interventions(NPIs) during COVID-19 were accompanied by marked declines in reported pertussis activity in many settings. However, relaxation of containment measures has been followed by resurgence, characterized by atypical outbreak patterns and shifts in case distribution, bacterial genotypes, and affected populations. Emerging evidence suggests that these changes are multifactorial, including altered contact patterns and immunity gap, disruptions and recovery in routine immunization and surveillance, waning or suboptimal vaccine-induced protection, pathogen adaptation, and improved case detection through expanded diagnostic capabilities. Addressing these challenges will require coordinated strategies to restore and optimize immunization delivery, strengthen surveillance and laboratory capacity (including resistance monitoring), and update clinical management guidance in the context of macrolide-resistant B. pertussis . Continued research is needed to define setting-specific drivers and to inform next-generation vaccines and integrated control strategies in the post-pandemic era.
Yang et al. (Sun,) studied this question.
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