Whooping cough outbreak kills 9 infants in Britain

Nine infants have died since the beginning of an outbreak of whooping cough in November 2023, according to figures released by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA).

In the first five months of 2024, 7,599 children and adults were infected by the disease, which affects the lungs and breathing tubes and spreads easily, the figures showed.

“Young babies are at highest risk of severe complications and death from whooping cough,” the UKHSA said in its alert.

According to the agency, over half of those infected are aged 15 or older and suffer a mild illness, adding that high numbers continue to be reported in babies under three months of age who are at greatest risk from the infection.

Medics have urged pregnant women and babies to get whooping cough vaccinations.

The UKHSA said the latest data for vaccinations offered to pregnant women to protect newborn infants against whooping cough has fallen below 60 per cent, stressing that timely vaccination in pregnancy and in childhood is important to protect vulnerable young infants from serious disease.