Nursery World - Government urged to take 'urgent action' amid rise in whooping cough cases

The Government has been urged to take ‘rapid action’ to prevent more children catching whooping cough amid a rise in cases of the disease, resulting in the death of five babies.

Infants are particularly vulnerable to whopping cough, cases of which are on the rise in England, PHOTO: Adobe Stock

New data published by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) show cases of whooping cough increased to 1,319 in March. This follows 556 cases in January and 918 in February, bringing the total number of cases this year to 2,793.

They reveal in the first quarter (January-March), the death of five infants, who are at the highest risk of severe complications from whooping cough.

According to the UKHSA, uptake of vaccinations that protect against whooping cough have fallen in recent years across the country. Women are offered the vaccination in pregnancy and children are given three doses of the 6 in 1 jab at eight, 12 and 16 weeks of age to protect against the disease. A booster is offered at three years, four months old.

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