Five babies have died from whooping cough in England this year, as cases continue to rise, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has reported. There were 1,319 confirmed cases in March, up from just over 900 in February, bringing the total for 2024 to nearly 2,800. Health officials fear this year could see a significant outbreak, with the last peak in 2016 recording 5,949 cases.
The infection is particularly dangerous for young infants. Half of all cases this year have been in under-15s, with the highest rates in babies under three months old. All five deaths were in this age group, marking the first fatalities since 2019. Known as pertussis or '100-day cough', the disease is cyclical, with peaks every three to five years.
UKHSA attributes the rise to declining vaccine uptake and low numbers during the pandemic. In September 2023, only 92.9% of two-year-olds had completed their routine six-in-one vaccinations, which include pertussis protection, down from 96.3% in March 2014. Uptake of the maternal pertussis vaccine, offered to pregnant women, has also fallen from over 70% in September 2017 to around 58% in September 2023.
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.' Prof Kamila Hawthorne of the Royal College of GPs added: 'It's highly concerning that such a high number of whooping cough cases have been confirmed.'
