Table 1.
Pertussis Mortality Rates in the Prevaccine Era
| Country | Data Sources | Vaccine Schedule Introduced | Study Period | Age Group | Mortality per Million Population |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low- and middle-income countries | |||||
| Kenya [3, 9] | Prospective cohort Household survey |
1980s | 1974–1976 and 1974–1977 |
All ages <1 y 1 to <4 y ≥5 y |
480 (95% CI, 410–570) 5110 (95% CI, 4090–7160) ∼1800 20 |
| Senegal [8] | Prospective cohort Verbal autopsy |
1986–1987 | 1986 | 0–5 mo 6–23 mo 2–4 y 5–14 y <15 y |
6900 6200 4000 200 2200 |
| South Africa [27] | Statutory death certification (national) | 1974 | 1939–1947 | All ages | European: 30 Native: 120 |
| High-income countries | |||||
| Australia [14] | Statutory death certification (national) | Introduced: 1940s Widely used: 1950s |
1936–1945 | All ages | 235 |
| Denmark [15] | Death records (single fever hospital ∼40% of identified discharges) | 1960s | 1919–1935 | All ages <1 y |
51 1712 |
| Denmarka [16] | Statutory death certification (national) | 1960s | 1856–1930 | All ages | 1860: 1500 1930: 400 |
| Germany [17] | Statutory death certification (national) | 1962 | 1959 | <1 y | 343 |
| Ireland [18] | Statutory death certification (national) | Mid 1950s | 1940–1949; 1950–1954 | All ages | 67; 23.9 |
| Italy [19] | Statutory death certification (national) | 1961 | 1890 and 1960 | All ages | 1890: 425 1960: 2 |
| New Zealand [20] | Statutory death certification (national) | 1960 | 1950–1959 | All ages | 7.6 |
| Switzerland [21] | Unspecified | 1950 | 1931–1950 | All ages | 20.7 |
| UK [23] | Statutory death certification (national) | 1950s | 1944–1949; 1950–1957 | <1 y 1–4 y 5–9 y |
709b; 207c 108b; 22c 6.6b; 1.3c |
| US [25] | Statutory death certification (national) | Introduced: 1940s Widely used: 1950s |
1900–1919; 1920–1934; 1934–1949 | <1 y 1–4 y |
3530d; 2743e; 1040f 653d; 797e; 128f |
| USg [24] | Statutory death certification (national) | Introduced: 1940s Widely used: 1950s |
1938–1940 | All ages <1 y |
27 1176 |
Abbreviations: CI, confidence interval; UK, United Kingdom; US, United States.
a Reported by Wright [16]; derived from: Madsen T. Lectures on the epidemiology and control of syphilis, tuberculosis, whooping cough, and other aspects of infectious disease. Baltimore: Williams & Wilkins, 1937.
b Average of figures for 1944–1945 and 1946–1949.
c Average of figures for 1950–1953 and 1954–1957.
d Average of figures for 1900–1919.
e Average of figures for 1920–1934.
f Average of figures for 1934–1939.
g Only number of deaths was given; we calculated the incidence according to population data.