Vaccine-preventable disease

There has been an increase in pertussis (whooping cough) case numbers since late 2023, continuing into the first three quarters of 2024. Case numbers to the end of the third quarter (week 39) of 2024 (n=6,732) are higher than annual case numbers for the last significant outbreak of pertussis in Scotland that occurred in 2012 and 2013. Nineteen measles cases were reported in Scotland in the first three quarters of 2024, most of which originated outside the UK reflecting increased measles activity in many countries worldwide in recent months.

Pertussis

Pertussis case numbers in Scotland have been increasing since late 2023. Case numbers peaked in June 2024, and have declined since.

There were 6,732 laboratory confirmed cases in the first three quarters of 2024: 1,084 cases in the first quarter and 3,765 cases in the second quarter, and 1,883 cases in the third quarter.  In 2023, there were 73 laboratory confirmed cases of pertussis, the majority of which (n=56) were reported in the final quarter of the year. Prior to 2024, the last significant outbreak in Scotland occurred in 2012 and 2013, with 1,896 and 1,188 laboratory confirmed cases per year, respectively. There was also increased pertussis activity in 2016, with 1,075 cases laboratory confirmed cases that year.

Measles, mumps and rubella

There were 19 laboratory confirmed measles cases reported in the first three quarters of 2024: six cases in the first quarter, eight cases in the second quarter, and five cases in the third quarter. Of these 19 cases, ten are thought to have been imported and related to travel outwith the UK, and one further (secondary) case was related to one of these imported cases. Of the remaining eight cases, three cases had history of recent travel in England and may have acquired measles there; the other five cases had no history of recent travel out with Scotland. The lack of onward transmission associated with the majority of these cases highlights the success of the MMR vaccination programme, the importance of maintaining high vaccine uptake in Scotland, and reflects the robust public health management of these cases.  

There were ten cases of laboratory-confirmed mumps reported in the first three quarters of 2024: four cases in the first quarter, five cases in the second quarter and one case in the third quarter. There were 16 cases of laboratory-confirmed mumps reported in 2023, seven cases in 2022 and one in 2021. This is a considerable reduction from the 864 cases reported in 2020 and 784 cases reported in 2019.

There have been no reported cases of rubella in Scotland since 2017.

Invasive bacterial diseases

Case numbers for meningococcal disease to the end of the third quarter of 2024 were higher than those for the same period of the previous five years. Cases of serogroup W and Y disease were reported in the first three quarters of 2024, but most cases continue to be serogroup B disease. There were 46 cases of meningococcal disease reported in the first three quarters of 2024. This compares with 38 cases for the same period in 2023, 19 in 2022, 8 in 2021 and 28 in 2020 and 43 in 2019. 

Case numbers for invasive pneumococcal disease to the end of the third quarter of 2024 were higher than those reported for the same period of the previous four years, but lower than the number of cases reported for the same period in 2019, which is the last full pre-pandemic year for which data are presented. There were 372 cases of invasive pneumococcal disease reported in the first three quarters of 2024. This compares with 321 cases in the same period of 2023, 233 in 2022, 181 in 2021, 222 in 2020 and 429 in 2019.

Case numbers for invasive Haemophilus influenzae to the end of the third quarter of 2024 were lower than the number of cases reported for the same period of 2023, but higher than the number of cases reported for 2022, 2021, 2020 and 2019. There were 61 invasive H. influenzae cases reported in the first three quarters of 2024. This compares with 76 cases for the same period in 2023, 47 cases in 2022, 18 cases in 2021, 42 cases in 2020 and 52 cases in 2019.