Global, regional and national burden of pertussis in 1990-2023: a Global Burden of Disease study.

Global pertussis mortality decreased by 61.2% and incidence by 41.6% from 1990 to 2023, but rebounded significantly after 2020, with 115,000 deaths in 2023.

• Why it matters: Pertussis remains a major cause of vaccine-preventable death, especially among infants, and disparities in burden highlight the need for targeted interventions in vulnerable regions.
• What they did: The study assessed pertussis incidence, mortality, and disability-adjusted life years across 204 countries from 1990 to 2023, analyzing long-term trends and pandemic-period fluctuations.
• The result: Findings emphasize the geographic concentration of pertussis mortality in sub-Saharan Africa, particularly among infants under 6 months, and support strengthening infant vaccination, maternal immunization, and surveillance in high-risk areas.