HEALTH chiefs are begging mums-to-be to get the whooping cough jab after another infant has died. Ten children have now died in England in what is thought to be the biggest outbreak since the 90s. Pregnant women and infants can get a free NHS jab to protect against the infection.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) confirmed there were 2,427 cases of the '100-day cough' in June, taking the total this year to 10,493. It is a huge surge from 858 cases and one death during the whole of 2023. Dr Mary Ramsay, vaccines director at the UK Health Security Agency, said: “Vaccination is the best defence against whooping cough and it is vital that pregnant women and young infants receive their vaccines at the right time.
“With cases continuing to rise and sadly 10 infant deaths since the outbreak began last November, ensuring women are vaccinated in pregnancy has never been more important. "Our thoughts and condolences are with those families who have so tragically lost their baby.” The illness, real name pertussis, is a bacterial infection of the lungs.
It starts like a cold but the cough may then last for weeks, or '100 days, and get worse as the infection spreads into the breathing tubes and lungs. Young babies may also make a distinctive 'whoop' or have difficulty breathing. Most cases during this outbreak were in those aged 15 years or older.
However, more than 300 have been reported in babies under three months, who are at greatest risk of dying. Babies and young children .