EIGHT babies have died in the UK whooping cough outbreak, health officials say.
Cases have also risen by 32 per cent in England between March and April, according to figures from the UK Health and Security Agency published today.
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In total, there have been 4,793 cases of whooping cough in England in 2024 against the 858 in 2023.
Some 342 cases (six per cent) have been in babies under one years old, around half have been in those aged 15 years or older and 26 per cent have been in children aged between 10 and 14 years.
Scotland has also reported an enormous 2,800 cases of the bug this year against the 73 for the whole of 2023.
The eight deaths include three additional on those reported in May.
Dr Gayatri Amirthalingam, consultant epidemiologist at UK Health Security Agency, said: “Our thoughts and condolences are with those families who have so tragically lost their baby.
“With whooping cough case numbers across the country continuing to rise and sadly the further infant deaths in April, we are again reminded how severe the illness can be for very young babies.”
Professor Sir Stephen Powis, NHS England’s national medical director, said: “With cases of whooping cough continuing to rise sharply across the country, and today’s figures from UKHSA sadly showing further infant deaths, it is vital that families come forward to get the protection they need.”
The so-called ‘100 day cough’ is a bacterial infection of the lungs, medically called pertussis, that can last for several weeks.
In the first few months of life, babies are particularly vulnerable because their immune system is still developing.
Pregnant women have been urged to get the vaccine (between 16 and 32 weeks of pregnancy) to protect their newborns.
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In the 12 years prior to the introduction of maternal jab in October 2012, 63 babies under the age of one died of whooping cough.
There have been 29 baby deaths from 2013 to the end of April 2024, including the eight in 2024.
The UKHSA says they were all too young to be fully vaccinated, but that 23 of these mothers had not had the jab either.
Babies are given a jab at eight, 12 and 16 weeks old – with a booster at age three.
Whooping cough tends to peak every five years or so. But the impact of the Covid pandemic – in which viruses and infections spread at a much lower rate during lockdowns – has also influenced outbreaks.
Vaccine uptake levels in pregnant women, babies and young children have fallen in recent years across England.
Maternal vaccine uptake fell from 74.7 per cent in December 2017 to 59.5 per cent in December 2023.
It’s led to experts warning of the ‘worst outbreak in 40 years’.
The virus starts with symptoms similar to a cold before a cough develops. Those affected can have coughing fits so severe they make a “whoop” cough as they gasp for breath.
However not everyone – including babies and adults – make this sound, making it harder to recognise.
Dr Amirthalingam said: “Pregnant women should have a whooping cough vaccine in every pregnancy, normally around the time of their mid-pregnancy scan (usually 20 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.
How to protect your family from whooping cough
Pregnant women can get a vaccine between 16 and 32 weeks to protect their babies who are not eligible for a jab until they are eight weeks.
Professor Sir Stephen Powis, NHS England’s national medical director, said: “NHS teams are working hard to ensure local vaccination services are easily accessible for all through GP practices and some maternity services, and we urge all pregnant women to get vaccinated to help protect their babies in the first few weeks of their life.
“Parents should also ensure that their children get protected in the first few months after birth as part of the routine NHS vaccine offer.”
If you get symptoms of the infection – a runny nose, sore throat and after around one week, a cough – see your GP.
Prof Powis said: “If you or your child have symptoms of whooping cough, ask for an urgent GP appointment or get help from NHS 111.”
If whooping cough is diagnosed within three weeks of the infection, you’ll be given antibiotics to help stop it spreading to others.
After this point, with or without antibiotics, you’re no longer contagious.
You should also seek medical help if:
- You’ve been in contact with someone with whooping cough and you’re pregnant
- You or your child has been in contact with someone with whooping cough and have a weakened immune system
“The vaccine is crucial for pregnant women, to protect their babies from what can be a devastating illness.”
If anyone in your family is diagnosed with whooping cough, it’s important they stay at home to avoid spreading it to other people.
After starting antibiotics, they can go outside – whether it be to work, school or nusery – after two days.
Full list of symptoms of whooping cough
WHOOPING cough is a bacterial infection of the lungs and breathing tubes.
The first signs of the condition tend to be similar to a cold – such as a runny nose, a sore throat, red and watery eyes, and a slightly raised temperature.
After about a week, other signs start to appear. These include:
- Coughing bouts that last for a few minutes and are worse at night
- “Whoop” sounds as your gasp for breath between coughs
- Difficulty breathing after a coughing bout
- Turning blue or grey (children)
- Becoming very red in the face (adults)
- Bringing up thick mucus, which can make you vomit
- Bleeding under the skin or in the eyes
- Feeling very tired after coughing
The cough may last several weeks or months.
Babies under six months have an increased risk of problems such as dehydration, breathing problems, pneumonia and seizures.
Older children and adults may experience sore ribs, hernia, middle ear infections, and urinary incontinence.
Source: NHS