UKHSA issues warning as another child dies of whooping cough and cases soar past 10,000

An urgent warning to parents has been issued by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) as cases of a potentially deadly Victorian disease have reached over 10,000 in England. The latest data published today (August 8) revealed there were 10,493 confirmed diagnoses of whooping cough from January to June this year.

Sadly, there was also a further infant death caused by the illness in June, bringing the total of fatalities since the start of the outbreak in November to 10. Statistics show that cases of whooping cough peaked in May but continue at high levels, with 2,427 cases reported in June.

This follows 555 cases in January 2024, increasing to 3,052 in May. Cases were particularly high between April and June, the UKHSA said, exceeding those in any quarter of the last major outbreak year in 2012.

Therefore, the UKHSA is continuing to urge parents to ensure their children are vaccinated against whooping cough, which is particularly dangerous to babies and young infants. Pregnant women are also eligible for vaccination, to help protect newborn babies.

Dr Mary Ramsay, director of immunisation at the UKHSA, 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. 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. 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