A tenth infant has tragically died from whooping cough amid a nationwide surge in cases, with over 10,000 confirmed infections so far this year. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) reported that the latest death occurred in June, marking a grim milestone in the ongoing outbreak.
Whooping cough, also known as pertussis, is a highly contagious bacterial infection often called the “100-day cough” due to its prolonged recovery period. The illness can be particularly severe in young infants, who are most at risk of serious complications and death.
Recent data reveals that cases of whooping cough peaked in May with 3,052 lab-confirmed cases, followed by 2,427 cases in June. As of the end of June, 10,493 cases had been confirmed this year, a dramatic increase from the 856 cases recorded throughout 2023. Alarmingly, more than half of these cases (55%) have been reported in individuals aged 15 and over, who typically experience only mild symptoms. However, 328 cases have occurred in babies under three months old, the age group most vulnerable to the disease’s severe effects.
The UKHSA received 939 whooping cough alerts in the week ending June 30, with more than 1,000 cases reported each week for the previous eight weeks. These alerts are notifications sent by GPs to the UKHSA when they diagnose a suspected case of whooping cough. While not all of these cases are confirmed by lab tests, around 23% are later proven to be whooping cough, indicating potential outbreaks early.
In the four weeks leading up to June 30, there were 4,610 whooping cough alerts across the UK. Birmingham recorded the highest number of GP-diagnosed cases, with 122, followed by Sheffield (95), Nottingham (84), and Leeds (77). Since the start of the year, Bristol has reported the most suspected cases, with 464, followed by Nottingham (425), Sheffield (343), and Birmingham (333).
According to the UKHSA, whooping cough is a cyclical disease that peaks every three to five years, with the last peak occurring in 2016. However, the current rise in cases has been exacerbated by declining vaccination rates. Coverage of the whooping cough vaccine offered to pregnant women, which helps protect newborns, has fallen to 59% as of March 2024, down from a peak of 73% in 2017.
“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,” said Dr Mary Ramsay, the UKHSA’s Director of Immunisation. “With cases continuing to rise and, sadly, ten 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.”
Whooping cough initially presents symptoms similar to a common cold, such as a runny nose and sore throat. After about a week, however, the infection can progress to severe coughing bouts, often worse at night. These coughing spells can be accompanied by a distinctive “whoop” sound or difficulty breathing in young infants.
To prevent the spread of whooping cough, individuals diagnosed with the infection are advised to stay home and avoid contact with others until 48 hours after starting antibiotics or two weeks after symptoms begin if antibiotics are not taken.
The UKHSA emphasizes the importance of timely vaccination during pregnancy and childhood to protect vulnerable young infants from this severe disease. All babies receive three doses of the 6-in-1 jab at eight, 12, and 16 weeks of age, with a preschool booster offered at three years old to provide continued protection against whooping cough and other serious illnesses like diphtheria and polio.
During the month of June, Sheffield and Leeds experienced an increased number of instances of whooping cough, ranking among the highest in the nation.
