Whooping Cough Outbreak
An emergency vaccination programme is being launched as figures show a staggering rise in the number of infants contracting Whooping Cough.
Whooping Cough vaccination for expectant mothers - Keith Wilkinson report
Pregnant women are to be vaccinated against whooping cough, after the biggest outbreak of the illness for 20 years, claimed the lives of nine babies.
Figures from the Health Protection Agency show a dramatic rise in the number of whooping cough cases in the Midlands.
In 2008, the East Midlands had 48 cases, but since then its risen to 576. In the West Midlands there were 56 cases in 2008, rising to 318. Nationally the current number of whooping cough cases is 4,791.
Health officials say the vaccine will protect new borns from the highly contagious infection. We should warn you Keith Wilkinson's report starts with images of a child with whooping cough.
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