Whooping cough cases up again as five babies die

Key Facts

Image source, Getty Images Five babies have died from whooping cough as cases continue to rise in England, health officials have announced.
Half of cases seen so far this year have been in the under-15s, with the highest rates in babies under three months of age.
UKHSA has said a steady decline in uptake of the vaccine in pregnant women and children and the very low numbers seen during the pandemic, as happened with other infections because of restrictions and public behaviour, were both factors.
- The first signs are similar to a cold, with a runny nose and sore throat After about a week, the infection can develop into coughing bouts that 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 bacteria spreads through coughs and sneezes People of all ages can catch whooping cough, but it is most serious for young children and babies Vaccination is offered to pregnant women to provide protection to their babies in the first months of life It is also included in the six-in-one jab offered to children before the age of two * Immunity against infection is not lifelong so from the teenage years onwards people can catch it, but it is usually 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.