Whooping cough outbreak that's killed five newborn babies 'could be biggest in ... trends now
Pregnant women were today urged to get vaccinated against whooping cough amid a worrying surge in cases that has already killed five babies.
As a few as a quarter of expectant mothers have had the pertussis jab – offered between 16 and 32 weeks — in parts of London.
Similarly low levels are seen in other parts of the capital and Birmingham.
Experts today warned the outbreak could be the biggest 'of the last 40 years'.
Almost 3,000 cases have already been recorded in 2024 — triple the levels seen across the entirety of 2023.
Health chiefs say Covid lockdowns have fuelled England's unprecedented epidemic of the infection, nicknamed the '100-day cough'.
Over half (50.8 per cent) were among those aged 15 and older, with more than a quarter (28.6 per cent) in children aged 10 to 14. But the rates of whooping cough remained highest in babies under three months, UKHSA noted, with 108 cases
UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) bosses received 1,319 lab-confirmed reports of cases in England in March alone. It marks a 44-fold rise on the 30 logged over the same month in 2023 and comes after MailOnline earlier this year revealed that cases of the '100 day cough' were at a decade high
Riley Hughes (pictured with his mum Catherine) was otherwise healthy when he died from whooping cough aged just 32 days in 2015
Pregnant women are being urged to get the vaccine to protect their baby from catching the infection in the first few weeks of their life. Protection should last until they are old enough to get vaccinated themselves
Vaccination rates have also slumped in the wake of the pandemic in a trend experts blame on growing jab scepticism.
Dr Michael Head, senior research fellow in global health at the University of Southampton, today said: 'Whooping cough can and does kill babies.
'A high coverage of vaccination is vital in reducing transmission within populations.
'Vaccine uptake in young children and for expectant mothers during pregnancy is so important. The vaccine is safe, and extremely effective.'
He added: 'As a disease, whooping cough is as infectious as measles, and more infectious than Covid.
'This is in part due to a long period where the infected individual can be infectious, able to transmit the bacteria onto others.
'Thus, with a larger pool of susceptible people, there is increased likelihood of an outbreak being sustained.'
Meanwhile, Professor Andrew Preston, an expert in biology, from the University of Bath, said: 'Uptake of the maternal booster has dropped from a high of 70 per cent to under 60 per cent.
'This results in many more young babies and infants susceptible to infection.
'It is tragic to see babies dying from whooping cough and with cases on the rise it is vital for vaccination rates to recover.'
Professor Paul Hunter, from the University of East Anglia, added: 'This current year looks like we may see more cases than we have seen in any of the last 40 years.'
Younger children, particularly under the age of three months, are 'most at risk of death and developing longer term problems such as brain damage', he said.
'The problem is that this age group is too young for the vaccine in most circumstances,' he added.
'That is why we offer vaccine to pregnant women. Not to protect them but to protect their babies during the riskiest first months of life.'
Dozens of babies died each year before the pregnancy jab roll-out was introduced in England in 2012.
Only 21 fatalities were recorded between then and 2023. All but two of their mothers were unvaccinated.
MailOnline understands of the five babies who have died in 2024 — all under the age of three months — two of their mothers were unvaccinated.
Uptake of the six-in-one jab — offered to babies in their first couple months of life — is also at an all-time low.
Just 91.8 per cent were fully vaccinated by their 1st birthday in 2022/23, according to NHS figures.
Babies are given three doses of the six-in-one jab at eight, 12 and 16 weeks of age to protect against whooping cough and other serious diseases such as diphtheria and polio.
A pre-school booster is offered after they turn three.
Dr Gayatri Amirthalingam, consultant epidemiologist at UK Health Security Agency, said: 'Vaccination remains the best defence against whooping cough and it is vital that pregnant women and young infants receive their vaccines at the right time.
'Whooping cough can affect people of all ages but for very young babies it can be extremely serious.
'Our thoughts and condolences are with those families who have so tragically lost their baby.'
Sir Stephen Powis, NHS national medical director, said: 'With cases of whooping cough continuing to rise sharply across the country, and today's figures sadly showing five infant deaths, it is vital that families come forward to get the protection they need.
'If you are pregnant and have not been vaccinated yet, or your child is not up-to-date with whooping cough or other routine vaccinations, please contact your GP as soon as possible, and if you or your child show symptoms ask for an urgent GP appointment or get help from NHS 111.'
Polly Deehy had a rattly cough and laboured breathing when she was just two weeks old on April 6. After four days coughing at home she suddenly turned blue and her parents Kerry Pearson, 26 and Jack Deehy, 29, rushed her to Darrent Valley Hospital, in
