The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has confirmed that since the current whooping cough outbreak began, 10 infants have died in England from infections.
New UKHSA statistics indicate that this year alone, there have been more than 10,000 confirmed laboratory cases of whooping cough in England.
The majority of instances involve individuals aged 15 or above; however, more than 300 cases have involved infants younger than three months old, who are the most vulnerable to the infection.
The outbreak is thought to have begun in England in November, with the first death reported in December 2023, according to Dr Gayatri Amirthalingam, consultant epidemiologist at the UKHSA. All regions of England have seen a rise in whooping cough infections due to a number of circumstances, including weakened immunity from the Covid-19 pandemic.The condition is cyclical, peaking every three to five years, and the most recent peak was "overdue", having last appeared in 2016.
The UKHSA is making an urgent plea for pregnant women to receive the vaccine.
A study published last year found the vaccine provided 89 per cent protection against hospitalisation and 97 per cent protection against death in babies.
“Vaccination remains the best defence against whooping cough and it is vital that pregnant women and young infants receive their vaccines at the right time,” said Dr Gayatri Amirthalingam.
“Pregnant women are offered a whooping cough vaccine in every pregnancy, ideally between 20 and 32 weeks. This passes protection to their baby in the womb so that they are protected from birth in the first months of their life when they are most vulnerable and before they can receive their own vaccines.”
So what is whooping cough and what are the symptoms?
What is whooping cough?
Whooping cough, also called pertussis, is a highly contagious bacterial infection of the lungs and airways. According to the NHS, it can be mistaken for a cold in its early stages. A runny nose and sore throat are typically the first signs of the infection. The NHS said:
Intense coughing bouts start about a week later.
The bouts usually last a few minutes at a time and tend to be more common at night.
Coughing usually brings up thick mucus and may be followed by vomiting.
Between coughs, you or your child may gasp for breath – this may cause a ‘whoop’ sound although not everyone has this.
The strain of coughing can cause the face to become very red and there may be some slight bleeding under the skin or in the eyes.
Young children can sometimes briefly turn blue (cyanosis) if they have trouble breathing – this often looks worse than it is and their breathing should start again quickly.
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In very young babies the cough may not be particularly noticeable but there may be brief periods where they stop breathing.
Babies and young children, especially young babies under six months of age, are at an increased risk of complications of whooping cough. For older children and adults, it tends to be less serious in these cases but can still be unpleasant.
Those who have previously had whooping cough are not immune to it – although it tends to be less severe the second time around.
And, for those vaccinated against whooping cough as a child, protection from the whooping cough vaccine tends to wear off after a few years.
If you have a baby under six months old who has started to develop whooping cough symptoms, you should speak to a doctor as soon as possible. It is best to avoid going into your GP surgery because the infection spreads quickly. Instead, book a phone appointment.
If you or your child develop blue or grey lips or skin – or you're struggling to breathe – go straight to A&E.
