The Secretary of Health reports that whooping cough, an acute respiratory disease, presents symptoms similar to those of a common cold and usually manifests between five to 10 days after exposure. Initial symptoms include nasal discharge, fever, and intense coughing, which can cause difficulty in breathing with a characteristic whistle after a coughing attack.
According to the General Directorate of Epidemiology, Mexico has recorded an increase in whooping cough cases, with 288 confirmed cases as of March 10. In response to this situation, an alert for surveillance was issued on March 1 due to the increase in the disease, prompting the Secretary of Health to request state health authorities to strengthen monitoring in hospitalized children under one year of age, who are more vulnerable.
The recommendation is to enhance surveillance to control the disease burden and assess the impact of the vaccination strategy implemented in the country. Regarding the distribution of cases, Mexico City leads with 46 confirmed cases as of week 9, followed by Nuevo León with 34, Chihuahua with 24, State of Mexico with 23, Jalisco with 23, and Aguascalientes with 21 cases.
During the period from February 23 to March 1, the states with the highest number of cases were State of Mexico with 15, Mexico City with 9, Coahuila with 8, Jalisco with 8, Zacatecas with 6, and Veracruz with 5 reports. Whooping cough is transmitted through saliva droplets and its coughing attacks can last up to 10 weeks, which hinders daily activities. In severe cases, it can cause complications such as hemorrhages, pneumonia, otitis media, seizures, apnea, and even sudden death.
In light of the current situation, the question arises whether a new pandemic is approaching.
