Another baby dies from whooping cough bringing current outbreak toll to 10
A tenth infant in England has died after contracting whooping cough, according to the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA).
The latest data showed the number of confirmed laboratory cases of whooping cough - also known as pertussis - in England passed 10,000 in the year to June.
That is compared to 856 (provisional) laboratory confirmed cases for the whole of 2023.
While most cases were in those aged 15 years or older, more than 300 have been reported in babies under three months old who are at the greatest risk from the infection.
The current outbreak is thought to have begun in November. Health officials put the high levels across all regions in England down to a number of reasons, including reduced immunity due to the Covid pandemic when cases plummeted.
It is also a cyclical disease that peaks every three to five years with the last such increase occurring in 2016, meaning the latest peak is “overdue”.
Health officials have now urged pregnant women to get vaccinated - as data shows the number of those inoculated has dropped. They say evidence shows vaccination at the right time in pregnancy provides 92% protection against infant death.
A closer look at the figures
There were 10,493 confirmed cases reported between January and June in England this year, according to UKHSA figures.
Levels peaked in May when some 3,052 cases were reported. There were 555 cases recorded in January and 2,427 in June.
Confirmed cases in the second quarter, from April to June, exceeded those in any quarter of the last major whooping cough outbreak in 2012.
The current outbreak is thought to have began in November last year, with the first infant death confirmed in December.
What are the symptoms?
The first signs of whooping cough are similar to a cold.
Symptoms can include a runny nose and sore throat, but after about a week, the infection can develop into coughing bouts that last for a few minutes and are typically worse at night.
Young babies may also make a distinctive “whoop” or have difficulty breathing after a bout of coughing - though not all babies make this noise.
What can people do to protect themselves?
Pregnant women are being urged to take up the offer of the whooping cough vaccine so they can pass on protection to their babies, which should last until they are old enough to get vaccinated themselves.
Parents are also being advised to take up the offer of vaccination for children when called forward.
The number of pregnant women with vaccination coverage in March was 58.9%, far lower than the peak coverage of 72.6% in March 2017, the data shows.
This is despite evidence showing that vaccination at the right time in pregnancy provides 92% protection against infant death.
Dr Mary Ramsay, director of immunisation at the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), said: “Vaccination is the best defence against whooping cough and it is vital that pregnant women and young infants receive their vaccines at the right time.
“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.
“With cases continuing to rise and, sadly, 10 infant deaths since the outbreak began last November, ensuring women are vaccinated in pregnancy has never been more important.
“Our thoughts and condolences are with those families who have so tragically lost their baby.”
When are babies immunised?
When a baby is eight weeks old they are offered the six-in-one vaccine, which includes immunisation against whooping cough.
The second dose of the vaccine is offered at 12 weeks and the third is offered at 16 weeks.
When children are three years and four months they will be offered the four-in-one pre-school booster, which protects against pertussis (whooping cough).
Kate Brintworth, chief midwifery officer for England, described the latest figures and infant death as “tragic” and advised pregnant women to speak with their GP or maternity team with any questions about the vaccine.
Leanne Hale, respiratory nurse specialist at charity Asthma and Lung UK, said: “It’s heartbreaking that another baby has died from whooping cough. The continued increase in cases is extremely worrying, with babies most at risk from this disease.
“The charity wants to urge all those eligible to make sure they get the whooping cough vaccine and ensure that their babies get it, particularly as we head towards the autumn when infections and coughs are more common.”
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