Exactly how many cases of 100-day cough there are in your area of Wales as five children die

The number of cases of whooping cough in Wales is on the rise. There have been more than 1,000 suspected cases of the bacterial infection in the nation so far this year, data by UK Health Security Agency shows. That's up from just 199 cases in the whole of 2023.

In England, health officials have confirmed that five babies have died after being diagnosed with the condition between January and March this year. In England, there has been more than 8,000 cases so far this year, a huge increase on the year before.

Whooping cough cases have been rising across UK since December 2023 due to a combination of factors. UKHSA consultant epidemiologist, Dr Gayatri Amirthalingam has said: "Whooping cough can affect people of all ages but for very young babies it can be extremely serious". She added: "Our thoughts and condolences are with those families who have so tragically lost their baby."

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Whooping cough, also known as pertussis or the "100-day cough", is a highly contagious bacterial infection caused by the bacterium Bordetella pertussis. It primarily affects the respiratory system, leading to severe coughing spells that can make breathing difficult. The name "whooping cough" comes from the distinctive "whooping" sound made when the person gasps for air after a coughing fit.

Whooping cough typically starts with symptoms similar to those of a common cold, such as a runny nose, sneezing, mild cough, and low-grade fever. After about one to two weeks, the cough becomes more severe and is characterized by intense, rapid coughing spells that often end with a high-pitched "whoop" sound as the person tries to breathe in.

In infants and young children, whooping cough can be particularly dangerous and may lead to complications such as pneumonia, seizures, brain damage, or even death. Therefore, vaccination against whooping cough is essential, especially for infants and children, to prevent its spread and protect against its severe effects.

New UKHSA figures show how many cases of 100-day cough there are in your area in Wales. Data shows how many cases there has been so far this year, as well as the number of cases within the week with the latest figures. For the latest health news, sign up to our newsletter here.

The council areas with the highest numbers of reported whooping cough in Wales so far in 2024:

• Vale of Glamorgan - 125

• Cardiff - 124

• Swansea - 117

• Bridgend - 89

• Rhondda Cynon Taf - 89

You can see the cases where you live using this interactive map:

In Wales so far in 2024, there has been 1,050 cases of whooping cough. According to the map, Vale of Glamorgan has the highest numbers of reported whooping cough in Wales so far this year with 125 cases - over 17 times more than the number of cases in the area with the lowest, which is Blaenau Gwent with seven.

The Vale is closely followed by Cardiff with 124 cases and Swansea with 117 cases. At the end of January, Swansea had seen more cases than anywhere else in England and Wales with 18 cases. While Blaenau Gwent had the lowest number of cases, Monmouthshire had the second lowest with eight cases, which was then followed by Torfaen with nine cases.

In north Wales, Flintshire had the highest number of cases with 62, while the neighbouring county of Denbighshire has the lowest with 20 cases. Gwynedd has 56 cases, while Conwy has 45 cases so far this year.

In west Wales, Ceredigion has 39 cases, Carmarthenshire with 35 and Pembrokeshire with 31. Powys has 52 cases so far in 2024.

Statutory notifications of infectious diseases for week ending April 21, 2024 by UKHSA region, county, local, unitary authority:

According to the UKHSA data, Wales as a whole had 82 cases in the week ending on April 21. Vale of Glamorgan had the highest number of cases with 12, followed by Cardiff with 13 and Conwy with 10. There were seven cases in Bridgend and Ceredigion respectively, while there were five in Swansea, and four in Powys and Gwynedd respectively. There were three cases in Carmarthenshire and Denbighshire, while there were no cases of whopping cough in Blaenau Gwent and Torfaen in the week ending on April 21.

NHS advice on how to check if you or your child has whooping cough:

The first signs of whooping cough are similar to a cold, such as a runny nose and sore throat (a high temperature is uncommon).

After about a week, you or your child:

• Will get coughing bouts that last for a few minutes and are worse at night

• May make a “whoop” sound – a gasp for breath between coughs (young babies and some adults may not “whoop”)

• May have difficulty breathing after a coughing bout and may turn blue or grey (young infants)

• May bring up a thick mucus, which can make you vomit

• May become very red in the face (more common in adults)

• The cough may last for several weeks or months

The NHS website advises people to ask for an urgent GP appointment or get help from NHS 111 if:

• Your baby is under six months old and has symptoms of whooping cough

• You or your child have a very bad cough that is getting worse

• You’ve been in contact with someone with whooping cough and you’re pregnant

• You or your child has been in contact with someone with whooping cough and have a weakened immune system.

Vaccination:

Pregnant women are routinely offered a whooping cough vaccination during their pregnancy as it is the only way to ensure young babies are protected in the first few months of their life. The vaccine is then also given to babies as part of their six in one vaccination at 8, 12 and 16 weeks as well as the four in one pre-school booster.

Doctors warn that whooping cough can be very serious for young babies, particularly under six months, and can lead to pneumonia, permanent brain damage and even death. They are urging all expectant mothers to get the vaccine at the recommended time from 20 weeks.