Five babies have died from whooping cough this year

The infection can be particularly harmful to infants (Picture: Getty Images)

Five babies in England have died after being diagnosed with whooping cough, also known as the ‘100-day cough’, so far this year.

There were 2,793 confirmed cases of whooping cough cases in England between January and March, according to health officials.

This is more than triple the amount recorded last year, with 858 cases.

There were 1,319 cases reported in March alone, the UK Health Security Agency (UJHSA) revealed today.

During the three month period, most cases (50.8%, or 1,420) were in those aged 15 years or older.

The rates of 100-day cough remain highest in babies under three months of age, the UKHSA said of the preliminary data, with 108 babies diagnosed.

What is whooping cough?

Whooping cough, officially known as pertussis, is a bacterial infection of the lungs and breathing tubes.

The infection can lead to a prolonged cough – hence why it’s often called the ‘100 day cough’.

In children, the illness causes them to make the characteristic ‘whoop’ sound – caused by a gasp for breath – that makes it easily identifiable.

It can cause youngsters to stop breathing or have seizures. Young infants may turn blue or grey after a coughing bout.

In adults, pertussis can seem like just another persistent cough, with the symptoms lasting for 10 weeks or more.

Cases usually start with a runny nose or sore throat before after a week becoming minutes-long coughing fits.

People may also experience breathing difficulties, become red in the face or bring up thick mucus from coughing which can lead to vomiting.

People diagnosed with the illness are advised to stay at home and not go to work, school or nursery until 48 hours after starting antibiotics or three weeks after symptoms start.

Is whooping cough contagious to adults?

Whooping cough is very infectious.

As as soon as they get cold-like symptoms, a person can spread the bacteria Bordetella pertussis easily to others.

Whooping cough cases have been rising nationally since December 2023 – health officials have a few ideas why.

Rates of the illness tend to be cyclical, peaking every three to five years on average. The last whooping cough cycle happened in 2016.

While this was eight years ago, UKHSA said that due to the coronavirus lockdown limiting the spread of most diseases, a new cycle was ‘long overdue’.

Immunity has also dipped, the agency added, due to the pandemic. As have people taking whooping cough vaccinations.

Pregnant people are being urged to have the whooping cough vaccine so they can pass the protection on to their children.

Dr Gayatri Amirthalingam, Consultant Epidemiologist at the UKHSA, said today: ‘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.

Whooping cough bacteria, called Bordetella pertussis, is highly contagious (Picture: Getty Images/Science Photo Libra)

‘Pregnant women are offered a whooping cough vaccine in every pregnancy, ideally between 20 and 32 weeks.

‘This passes protection to their baby in the womb so that they are protected from birth in the first months of their life when they are most vulnerable and before they can receive their own vaccines.’

NHS national medical director Professor Sir Stephen Powis added: ‘With cases of whooping cough continuing to rise sharply across the country, and today’s figures sadly showing five infant deaths, it is vital that families come forward to get the protection they need.

‘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 show symptoms ask for an urgent GP appointment or get help from NHS 111.’

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