Pertussis in an indigenous population in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, Colombia, 2022

Abstract

Background. In March 2022, in the municipality of Dibulla, 11 indigenous children from Taminaka were hospitalized for respiratory symptoms; the immediate response team was deployed to characterize the pertussis outbreak in the indigenous people, and to recommend control and prevention measures. Population and Methods. A descriptive outbreak study was conducted; information from medical records, notification to the surveillance system, active institutional and community search, and verbal autopsies were reviewed. Polymerase chain reaction was used for laboratory confirmation. Frequency distribution, measures of central tendency, dispersion, attack rates, incidence, case-fatality, and comparison of means for sex were calculated using the χ² test (P<0.05). Results. Sixty-two cases of pertussis were identified, 14 were confirmed by laboratory and 48 by epidemiological link. Males accounted for 56.5% (35), with a median age of 2 years (interquartile range: 0-5); there was a statistically significant difference by age groups (P<0.05). The most affected age group was 1 to 5 years old, with 46.7% (29) of the cases. Hospitalization was required in 40.3% (25) of the cases. Ninety-four percent (58) had no history of vaccination. The incidence was 141.1 cases per 100,000 population, the attack rate was 4.3% (62/1440) and the case fatality was 16.1% (10/62).  Discussion. To prevent and contain outbreaks such as these, it is necessary to strengthen health services strategies and ensure vaccination coverage in children and pregnant women.