Surveillance of whooping cough should continue

[...]if the organism cannot be cultured from mild infections in older children and adults, these atypical cases are unlikely to be a serious source of transmission. [...]this hypothesis is inconsistent with the elimination of pertussis in countries that have persisted with compulsory vaccination from 3 months of age with whole cell vaccine containing all three agglutinogens. 5 Our own experience with British isolates shows that in recent years the annual incidence of culture confirmed cases has been less than half that recorded in 1997, with an appreciable fall in serotype 1,2.