Whooping cough deaths will ‘surge’ after ‘worst outbreak in 40 years’ kills 5 babies – as doctors urge vaccine appeal

DISEASE experts have warned that the number of deaths from whooping cough “may well rise” as England faces its worst outbreak in 40 years.

It comes after reports that five British babies under three months old have died from the bacterial infection this year.

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Three of the five bereaved mothers are believed to have received vaccinations during pregnancy to protect their children.

Eight in 10 infant deaths since 2012 have occurred in babies born to unvaccinated mothers, with the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) warning that uptake of the free NHS whooping cough vaccine among pregnant women has declined in recent years. years.

Being vaccinated during pregnancy can transmit immunity to your baby in the first months of life, when he or she is most vulnerable to complications from the disease.

“Vaccination remains the best defense and it is vital that pregnant women and babies receive their vaccinations at the right time,” highlighted Dr Gayatri Amirthalingam, consultant epidemiologist at UKHSA.

Whooping cough is a bacterial infection of the lungs, also called whooping cough.

There was a huge increase in the number of cases in the first three months of this year – 2,793, up from 853 cases and one death recorded throughout 2023.

With data showing that the number of deaths from whooping cough so far this year is the highest since 2014, experts have warned they could continue to rise.

Writing for the Daily MailSaleyha Ahsan said: “There is inevitably a lag between deaths and official reported numbers, so as early as mid-May the number of deaths is considered higher.

“And with pediatric intensive care units now at ’emergency capacity’ because of pertussis and measles – which means, in essence, that there are too many cases – that number could very well, tragically, rise.”

The UKHSA said the bug peaks every three to five years and the last peak in the UK was in 2016, meaning a year of peak cases is “overdue”.

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Paul Hunter, professor of medicine at the University of East Anglia, said the latest rise in cases was fueled by factors such as falling vaccinations, reduced community transmission during lockdowns and waning population immunity.

Whooping cough “was much more common in the last century, until the introduction of the vaccine,” he continued.

The United Kingdom instituted routine vaccination against the disease in 1957 to contain large-scale outbreaks that could affect up to 150,000 people and kill 300 in a single year.

“However, this year it looks like we could see more cases than we have seen in any of the last 40 years,” warned Professor Hunter.

Whooping cough often starts as a cold-like illness, but can develop into a persistent, persistent cough.

Symptoms can last for weeks or months, which is why it has been nicknamed the “100-day cough.”

Treatment may depend on your age and how long you have had the infection.

Hospital treatment is usually needed if you have severe whooping cough or if your baby is less than six months old.

Professor Andrew Preston, from the Milner Center for Evolution at the University of Bath, said: “The Covid-19 pandemic has seen a dramatic fall in the incidence of whooping cough – and other respiratory infections – due to the large reduction in people mixing during this period. .

“Cases have been rising since the end of restrictions and a peak year was expected to emerge soon.”

But he noted that vaccination rates have slowed compared to pre-pandemic levels — going from more than 96 percent coverage to just under 93 percent last year for children and from 70 percent to less than 60 percent. in mothers.

“This results in many more babies and children being susceptible to infection,” warned Professor Preston.

“It is tragic to see babies dying from whooping cough and with cases rising it is vital that vaccination rates recover.”

Pregnant women receive a free NHS whooping cough vaccine between 20 and 32 weeks, while babies receive three doses of the 6-in-1 vaccine at eight, 12 and 16 weeks of age to protect against whooping cough and other serious illnesses, such as diphtheria and polio.

Pre-school support is also offered at three years and four months.