Pertussis epidemiology can be affected by a number of factors, including changes in laboratory techniques and heightened awareness of the disease. Recent overall increases in laboratory confirmed cases have largely been in older age groups and subsequent to the introduction of new laboratory methods in 2002 and 2006. Pertussis in infants still peaks every three to four years but overall disease incidence has fallen over the last 13 years. Although a greater number of cases are being confirmed in older age groups, the incidence in these age groups remains relatively low.

HPA Laboratory-confirmed cases of pertussis reported to the enhanced surveillance programme, England and Wales: April to June 2010. Health Protection Report 2010;4(47): immunisation. [pdf file]

HPA Laboratory-confirmed cases of pertussis reported to the enhanced pertussis surveillance programme in 2009. Health Protection Report 2010;4(25): immunisation. [pdf file]

• Table: Whooping Cough (Pertussis) Laboratory Reports in England and Wales by REGION and AGE GROUP, 2008 - 2011 (confirmed by culture, PCR and/or serology)
  Lab confirmed cases.
  Added/updated: 4 January 2012
  
• Number of laboratory-confirmed pertussis cases per quarter in England and Wales
  Added/updated: 11 April 2011
  
• Pertussis notifications and deaths with a mention of pertussis in age group >1 year: 1994-2010
  Added/updated: 11 April 2011
  
• Pertussis notifications and deaths with a mention of petussis in infants: 1994-2010
  Added/updated: 11 April 2011
  
• Table: Notifications, England and Wales, by REGION, 1991 - 2008
  Added/updated: 22 July 2010
  
• Table: Notifications, England and Wales, by AGE GROUP, 1982 - 2008
  Added/updated: 29 December 2011
  
• Table: Notifications and Deaths, England and Wales, 1970 - 2008
  Added/updated: 29 December 2011
  
• Table: Whooping Cough (Pertussis) Laboratory Reports in England and Wales by REGION, 1994 - 2008 (confirmed by culture, PCR and/or serology)
  Added/updated: 19 May 2010
  
• Table: Laboratory Reports, England and Wales, by AGE GROUP, 1994 - 2008 (confirmed by culture, PCR and/or serology)
  Added/updated: 29 December 2011
  
• Table: Laboratory confirmed cases of pertussis infection England and Wales, by AGE 2002-2008
  Added/updated: 19 May 2010
  
• Table: Laboratory confirmed cases of Pertussis infection England and Wales, by quarter 2002-2008
  Added/updated: 19 May 2010
  
• Graph: Laboratory reports of Bordetella pertussis 1994-2008: Five weekly moving average, England and Wales
  Added/updated: 23 February 2010
  
• Graph: Whooping cough notifications and vaccine coverage, England and Wales, 1940-2008
  Added/updated: 19 February 2010
  
• Graph of rates of laboratory confirmed cases in England and Wales by age from 1994 to 2008 (confirmed by culture, PCR and/or serology)
  Added/updated: 19 February 2010
  
• Graph: Cumulative weekly pertussis notifications for children less than 1 year old in England and Wales, 2001-2009
  Added/updated: 23 February 2010
  
• Graph of laboratory confirmed cases diagnosed by different laboratory methods in each age group from 2002 to 2008
  Graph of laboratory confirmed cases by age and laboratory diagnosis method.
  Added/updated: 8 January 2010
  
• Graph: Laboratory-confirmed cases of pertussis in England and Wales from January to September, 2007 to 2011 (provisional data)
  Graph: Laboratory-confirmed cases of pertussis in England and Wales from January to September, 2007 to 2011 (provisional data)
  Added/updated: 15 November 2011