Pertussis (Bordetella pertussis)

Clinical criteria
Any person with a cough lasting at least two weeks
AND
at least one of the following three:
- Paroxysms of coughing
- Inspiratory “whooping”
- Post-tussive vomiting
OR
Any person diagnosed as pertussis by a physician
OR
Apnoeic episodes in infants

Laboratory criteria
At least one of the following three:
- Isolation of Bordetella pertussis from a clinical specimen
- Detection of Bordetella pertussis nucleic acid in a clinical specimen
- Bordetella pertussis specific antibody response

Epidemiological criteria
An epidemiological link by human to human transmission

Case classification
A. Possible case
Any person meeting the clinical criteria
B. Probable case
Any person meeting the clinical criteria and with an epidemiological link
C. Confirmed case
Any person meeting the clinical and the laboratory criteria

Current as of: 24 January 2019