Whooping cough

2024 - 5 - 9

Whooping Cough Outbreak: 5 Infant Deaths and Rising Cases in UK

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Shocking news of 5 infant deaths due to whooping cough outbreak in the UK. Cases on the rise, raising concerns for public health.

Whooping cough, also known as pertussis, has made a concerning resurgence in the UK, with a significant increase in cases reported in the first quarter of 2024. Sadly, five infant deaths have been linked to the bacterial infection, highlighting the severity of the situation. Young infants are particularly vulnerable to severe complications and even death from whooping cough, making the recent outbreak all the more alarming.

The UK appears to be facing its largest outbreak of whooping cough in two decades, with a notable spike in reported cases. In March alone, there were 1300 cases, a substantial jump from just over 900 cases in February. The rising numbers have raised concerns among health authorities and the public alike, prompting increased vigilance and preventive measures.

Despite efforts to raise awareness about whooping cough, the initial symptoms can often be mistaken for a common cold or cough. Dr. Kathryn Basford warns that the disease can escalate rapidly after the first week or two, underscoring the importance of early detection and treatment. The surge in cases and tragic loss of infants emphasize the critical need for vaccination and public health interventions to curb the spread of the disease.

In a bid to combat the escalating outbreak, pregnant women have been encouraged to receive the whooping cough vaccine since 2012. This preventive measure aims to protect both mother and baby, providing vital antibodies to the unborn child through the placenta. With over 2700 reported cases in England so far in 2024, surpassing the total for the entire previous year, the importance of vaccination and awareness campaigns is more crucial than ever.

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Image courtesy of "GOV.UK"

Whooping cough cases continue to rise (GOV.UK)

Sadly, in the first quarter of 2024 (January - March), there have been five infant deaths. Young infants are at highest risk of severe complications and death ...

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Image courtesy of "The Guardian"

Five babies in England reported dead after developing whooping ... (The Guardian)

The UK may be experiencing its biggest outbreak of whooping cough in two decades, with five deaths reported among infants who developed the disease in ...

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Image courtesy of "BBC News"

Whooping cough: Cases up again as five infant deaths reported (BBC News)

There were 1300 cases of the bacterial infection in March, after just over 900 in February in England.

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Image courtesy of "The Independent"

Whooping cough outbreak in the UK: Sound, vaccine and everything ... (The Independent)

“Whooping cough often appears as a normal cough or cold at first, however you may notice symptoms intensifying after a week or two,” says Dr Kathryn Basford ...

Five babies dead after whooping cough diagnosis (Telegraph.co.uk)

Number of cases this year more than triple the total for 2023 after warnings of highest infection rate in four decades.

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Image courtesy of "Evening Standard"

Five babies die as whooping cough cases more than triple in a year (Evening Standard)

That compares to 858 cases for the whole of 2023. The UKHSA said between January and the end of March, there have been five infant deaths.

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Image courtesy of "GP online"

Five infant deaths this year as whooping cough cases surge (GP online)

Five infants have died from pertussis in 2024, with more than three times as many cases of the disease reported in the first three months of this year than ...

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Image courtesy of "Sky News"

Five babies have died with whooping cough this year, UK health ... (Sky News)

More than 2700 cases have been reported across England so far this year - more than three times the amount recorded for the whole of last year.

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Image courtesy of "Financial Times"

Whooping cough resurgence leads to death of five babies as ... (Financial Times)

Since 2012 pregnant women have been offered the vaccine, which creates antibodies in the unborn child via the placenta, providing very high rates of protection ...

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Image courtesy of "Nursing Times"

Action demanded on vaccines after five whooping cough deaths (Nursing Times)

Read about calls on the UK Government to improve vaccine rates, after five infants died of whooping cough the first three months of 2024.

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Image courtesy of "Pulse"

Five babies have died from whooping cough in England this year (Pulse)

It comes after repeated warnings from public health officials about falling uptake of maternal pertussis vaccination. The latest figures show rates of whooping ...

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Image courtesy of "The Guardian"

'I can't seem to fight this off': readers' experiences of whooping cough (The Guardian)

With cases of whooping cough on the rise in adults and children, four people share their experience of the “100-day cough”. 'It's like drowning in phlegm'. For ...

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Image courtesy of "ITV News"

'She deteriorated so quickly': Parents of baby who died from ... (ITV News)

New figures revealed whooping cough cases have more than trebled at start of 2024 compared with last year. | ITV National News.

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Image courtesy of "BBC News"

Whooping cough: Hundreds of cases confirmed in Northern Ireland (BBC News)

Whooping cough is a highly contagious serious bacterial respiratory infection and can be fatal for babies and young people. The PHA is urging pregnant women and ...

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Image courtesy of "Telegraph.co.uk"

What is whooping cough, what are the symptoms and how deadly is it? (Telegraph.co.uk)

More than 2,700 whooping cough cases have been reported across England so far in 2024 – more than three times the amount recorded in the whole of last year. UK ...

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Image courtesy of "BBC News"

Newspaper headlines: 'Whooping cough warning' and Friday ... (BBC News)

No one story dominates Friday's front pages, however, the Daily Mirror is one of several to report that five babies have died of whooping cough.

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Image courtesy of "Yahoo Eurosport UK"

What the papers say – May 10 (Yahoo Eurosport UK)

The Daily Mail, Metro and the Daily Mirror report on an outbreak of whooping cough that has cost five British babies their lives and puts thousands of other ...

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Image courtesy of "Kidderminster Shuttle"

Five infants lost to whooping cough surge in first quarter (Kidderminster Shuttle)

Five infant deaths of whooping cough and mounting cases have sparked nationwide concerns. Continued rising cases in the United Kingdom, with a total of 2,793 ...

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Image courtesy of "Nursery World"

Government urged to take 'urgent action' amid rise in whooping ... (Nursery World)

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 ...

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Image courtesy of "Burnham and Highbridge Weekly News"

What the papers say – May 10 (Burnham and Highbridge Weekly News)

The Daily Mail, Metro and the Daily Mirror report on an outbreak of whooping cough that has cost five British babies their lives and puts thousands of other ...

Pregnant mothers encouraged to get vaccinated to prevent ... (Sandwell Council)

Cases of whooping cough have seen a national increase, with 1319 confirmed cases in March alone and five infant deaths between January – March 2024.

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Image courtesy of "Sky News"

What is whooping cough? Symptoms parents should look for as ... (Sky News)

The bacterial infection, also known as pertussis, affects the lungs and breathing tubes and causes bouts of coughing. It is highly contagious and is spread in ...

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Image courtesy of "The Guardian"

Whooping cough will kill more babies unless UK vaccination rates ... (The Guardian)

Government adviser says low take-up of jab among pregnant women is putting young infants at particular risk.

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Image courtesy of "BBC News"

Whooping cough: Vaccine expert 'very worried' by whooping cough ... (BBC News)

Five babies have died from the infection amid a rise in cases in the UK.

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Image courtesy of "Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust"

Pregnant women in Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin urged to get the ... (Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust)

10 May 2024 With cases of whooping cough increasing across Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin, pregnant women are being encouraged to come forward for a ...

Whooping cough vaccine offers protection to babies and mums ... (Public Health Scotland)

Public Health Scotland (PHS) is encouraging pregnant women to ensure they are immunised against whooping cough. The vaccine also offers vital protection to ...

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