The cause of death for 21 Kogui indigenous children since December, and the current hospitalisation of 17 more, has now been established – pertussis infection. The children are from a remote community, the Taminaka reservation, on the northern slopes of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta range and they were all unvaccinated. Read more
Advice for travellers
Travelvax recommends Australians travelling overseas check their immunisation status for childhood diseases such as whooping cough (pertussis), diphtheria, measles and mumps at least 6 weeks before departure. Read more about whooping cough.
Before you travel, call Travelvax Australia’s telephone advisory service on 1300 360 164 (toll-free from landlines) for country-specific advice and information. You can also make an appointment at your nearest Travelvax clinic to obtain vaccinations, medication to prevent or treat illness, and accessories for your journey.