Waning infant pertussis during COVID-19 pandemic
Kathy Falkenstein‐Hagander, Emma Appelqvist, Ann‐Sofie Frisk Cavefors, Henrik Källberg, Lennart Nilsson, Sven‐Arne Silfverdal, Jann Storsæter, Bernice Aronsson
Abstract
Measures to reduce the spread of COVID-19 have been associated with reduction in other respiratory infections. Results of a national Swedish cohort study of infant pertussis during April 2020-September 2021 were compared with those during January 2014-March 2020. The number of pertussis cases decreased significantly during the COVID-19 pandemic, from an average of 21 infant cases per quarter of a year before the pandemic to an average of 1 case per quarter during the pandemic. Swedish strategies to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 seem to have had an impact on pertussis incidence in infants.