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10 Infant Deaths During England's Whopping Cough Outbreak

August 8, 2024 • 2:56 pm CDT
UKHSA whopping Cough trends August 2024
(Vax-Before-Travel News)

New whooping cough data published today by the U.K. Health Security Agency (UKHSA) shows that laboratory-confirmed cases have exceeded 10,400.

The latest data for England shows cases of whooping cough peaked in May 2024 but continue at high levels, with 2,427 cases reported in June.

On August 8, 2024, the UKHSA  confirmed one additional infant death in June, bringing the total to 10 since the current outbreak, which began in November 2023.

Evidence from England shows that vaccination at the right time in pregnancy is highly effective, offering 92% protection against infant death.

The latest uptake data for the vaccination offered to pregnant women to protect newborn infants against whooping cough continues to decline - with coverage in March 2024 at 58.9% compared to the peak coverage (72.6%) in March 2017.

Dr. Mary Ramsay, Director of Immunisation at the UKHSA, said in a press release, "Vaccination is the best defense against whooping cough, and pregnant women and young infants must 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 (vaccination) 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 vaccines."

Whooping cough, also known as pertussis, is a bacterial infection that affects the lungs. The first signs of infection are similar to a cold, such as a runny nose and sore throat, but after about a week, the infection can develop into coughing bouts that last for a few minutes and are typically worse at night, says the UKHSA.

In the United States, whooping cough vaccines are generally available at health clinics and pharmacies.

As of August 2024, the U.S. CDC has not issued a Travel Health Advisory regarding the U.K.'s whooping cough outbreak.

Our Trust Standards: Medical Advisory Committee