In a statement, the Director of Public Health of New Zealand, Nicholas Jones, warned of cases increasing in the coming months. He has advised the population, especially the most vulnerable, to be prepared.

The nation recorded 263 cases of whooping cough from Oct. 19 to Nov. 15 and, according to Jones, numbers in countries across five continents are reaching record levels.

The bacterial infection starts as a common cold, which within days causes a violent, uncontrollable cough that can last for weeks or even months, followed by spasms or a sharp wheeze, and is very dangerous for young children in particular.

According to Jones, the number of babies getting sick is much lower when mothers have been vaccinated during pregnancy and when babies are vaccinated on time.

He said New Zealand hasn’t recorded a whooping cough outbreak since 2017 and the government is prepared to manage this epidemic just as firmly as it fought Covid-19.

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