Estimation of the underlying burden of pertussis in adolescents and adults in Southern Ontario, Canada.

ABSTRACT: Despite highly successful vaccination programs and high vaccine uptake, both endemic pertussis and periodic pertussis outbreaks continue to occur. The under-recognized role of adolescents and adults in disease transmission, due to waning immunity following natural infection and vaccination, and reduced likelihood of correct diagnosis, may contribute to pertussis persistence. We constructed a mathematical model to describe the transmission of pertussis in Southern Ontario in both pre-vaccine and vaccine eras, to estimate the underlying burden of pertussis in the population. The model was well calibrated using the best available data on pertussis in the pre-vaccination (1880-1929) and vaccination (1993-2004) eras in Ontario. Pertussis under-reporting by age group was estimated by comparing m

SUBMITTER: McGirr AA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3871538 | biostudies-literature | 2013

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature