Pertussis Resurgence: Perspectives From the Working Group Meeting on Pertussis on the Causes, Possible Paths Forward, and Gaps in Our Knowledge

摘要

The incidence of reported pertussis has steadily increased in the United States since the 1980s, with a striking increase observed since 2005 [1]. Provisional case counts in the United States for 2012 exceed 41 000, with 14 deaths among infants [2]. This resurgence in pertussis that has been seen in the United States and other countries [3] has caused considerable concern.On 6 March 2013, 64 experts in the field of pertussis vaccinology, from academia, government agencies, and pharmaceutical companies, met during the Working Group Meeting on Pertussis that was held in Bethesda, Maryland. This workshop offered a unique opportunity for experts to discuss possible causes of the resurgence in pertussis, the possible paths forward, and the remaining gaps in our knowledge.