The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has issued a warning over a concerning rise in whooping cough cases in England and Wales. In January alone, 553 cases were recorded in England, with high numbers also reported in Wales. Officials fear this could be a bumper year for the bacterial infection, which is also known as pertussis or the '100-day cough'. The last peak year, 2016, saw 5,949 cases in England.
Whooping cough can be particularly serious for babies and infants. The UKHSA has noted a steady decline in the uptake of the vaccine among pregnant women and children. In September 2023, the proportion of two-year-olds who completed their routine six-in-one vaccinations, which includes protection against pertussis, was 92.9%, down from 96.3% in March 2014. Uptake of the maternal pertussis vaccine, offered to women during every pregnancy, also dropped from over 70% in September 2017 to about 58% in September 2023.
The first signs of whooping cough 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 also make a distinctive 'whoop' sound or have difficulty breathing after a coughing bout. The bacteria spread through coughs and sneezes, so experts advise members of a family in which it has been diagnosed to stay at home until three weeks after symptoms began or 48 hours after the patient started taking antibiotics.
Steve Russell, NHS England national director for vaccinations and screening, urged families to come forward for protection. 'If you are pregnant and have not been vaccinated yet or your child is not up-to-date with whooping cough or other routine vaccinations, please contact your GP as soon as possible. And if you or your child have symptoms, ask for an urgent GP appointment or get help from NHS 111,' he said.
