Health officials in England have announced that five babies have died from whooping cough as cases continue to rise. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) reported 1,319 cases in England in March, with just over 900 cases in February, bringing the total for 2024 to almost 2,800. The agency is concerned that this year could see a significant number of bacterial infections – the last peak year, 2016, saw 5,949 cases in England. The infection can be particularly serious for infants, with half of the cases seen so far this year affecting under 15s, and the highest rates in babies under three months old.
All five babies who died from the disease this year were under three months old. While other parts of the UK and Europe are also seeing a rising number of whooping cough cases, the decline in uptake of the vaccine and the low numbers seen during the pandemic are factors contributing to the rise in England. The agency said a peak year was therefore overdue. The number of two-year-olds who completed their routine six-in-one vaccinations, which includes protection against pertussis, was 92.9% in September 2023, compared with 96.3% in March 2014. Uptake of the maternal pertussis vaccine, offered to women in every pregnancy, dropped from more than 70% in September 2017 to about 58% in September 2023.
Getting vaccinated while pregnant provides some protection to babies in the first months of life. Known as pertussis or “100-day cough”, whooping cough is a bacterial infection that is cyclical, with peaks seen every three to five years. Early signs can include a runny nose and sore throat, followed by coughing bouts that can last a few minutes and are typically worse at night. Young babies may make a distinctive “whoop” or have difficulty breathing after a bout of coughing. The bacterial infections spreads through coughs and sneezes, and while it can affect people of all ages, it is most serious for young children and babies.
Health experts are urging those who are not vaccinated to come forward to get the jab. Children who have not been vaccinated can still get the jab up to the age of 10. Vaccinations do not provide lifelong immunity against the disease, but subsequent infections tend to be mild. Dr Gayatri Amirthalingam, from UKHSA, said: “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. Whooping cough can affect people of all ages, but for very young babies, it can be extremely serious. Our thoughts and condolences are with those families who have so tragically lost their baby.” Meanwhile, Prof Kamila Hawthorne, who chairs the Royal College of GPs, expressed concern that such a high number of whooping cough cases have been confirmed. “While whooping cough will be an unpleasant and uncomfortable experience for most patients, causing restless nights and leaving those affected with a shortness of breath, for some, it can be far more serious,” he said
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