How to survey pertussis in France

Pertussis surveillance should be reestablished in France because of persistence of the disease inspite of high rate of immunization. In addition, acellular vaccines will be soon introduced in France. A recent hospital survey has indicated a high incidence in infants younger than one year (65 % of all cases). Since no perfect case definition and no reliable laboratory diagnosis are available,this surveillance remains difficult to achieve. A network of sentinel hospital physicians (pediatricians and microbiologists) should allow to collect, and hopefully to confirm, the most severe cases occurring mainly in infants to young to be vaccinated. These cases of unvaccinated young infants are a reliable marker of the Bordetella pertussis presence within the population. A notification will be requested in the future, as recommanded by WHO.