Suspected Leicestershire whooping cough cases rise as eight babies die in England

Whooping cough numbers continue to rise over the country and new figures show that eight babies have now died from the disease in the first four months of the year between January and April.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) revealed last month that five babies died in England after becoming infected with whooping cough in the first three months of the year. In its latest update, the UKHSA has said another three infants have died.

It comes as lab tests have confirmed 4,793 whooping cough infections in England alone between January and April. Whooping cough - sometimes known as the “100-day cough” - is a bacterial infection of the lungs and breathing tubes. It spreads very easily and can sometimes cause serious problems. Babies are the most at risk of severe complications from the disease.

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Separate figures show that the UKHSA has received more than 31,000 notifications of suspected whooping cough cases in England and Wales so far this year, including 4,360 in the last three weeks up to June 2.

Suspected cases have increased across Leicestershire with 197 across the city and county, a rise of 77 suspected cases in the last two weeks. Charnwood is the hardest hit with 39 possible cases reported up to Sunday, June 2.

The borough was closely followed by Blaby and Leicester, both with 34 suspected cases. Hinckley and Bosworth has had 27 reports, North West Leicestershire, 20, and Melton, 18. Oadby and Wigston comes next with 13 suspected cases and Harborough has the least with 12.

Local suspected cases remain low compared to many areas of the country, however. In the last three weeks, more possible cases have been diagnosed in Bristol (144) than anywhere else in England and Wales, followed by Sheffield (88) and then Nottingham (85).

Bristol has now seen the most suspected cases all year with 387, followed by Nottingham (340) and Cardiff (252). You can see the suspected cases near you with our interactive map.

GPs are required to send to the UKHSA every time they diagnose a case of what they believe to be whooping cough. These are then tested to see if they are the disease, so the actual case numbers could be lower.

In most cases, whooping cough will present symptoms very similar to a common cold, such as a runny nose and a sore throat, but these symptoms will intensify over the course of a week. Around seven days after being infected with whooping cough, longer coughing bouts will take hold and are most common during the night. As well as this, the intensity of the coughing bouts can cause breathing difficulties and produce thick mucus.

Cases have been rising due to a “combination” of factors, including the cyclical nature of the disease and the impact and isolation of the Covid-19 pandemic which led to reduced immunity. Vaccine uptake has also fallen in recent years. Four in 10 expectant mothers do not take the maternal pertussis vaccination, while about one in 12 infants do not receive the 6-in-1 jab by their first birthday.

Announcing the infant deaths, the UKHSA said: “In the 12 years prior to the introduction of maternal pertussis vaccination in October 2012, 63 deaths occurred in babies aged under one year with confirmed pertussis.

“Since the introduction of pertussis vaccination in pregnancy, from 2013 to the end of April 2024, there have been 29 deaths in babies with confirmed pertussis who were all too young to be fully protected by infant vaccination. Sadly, this includes eight deaths in infants who had contracted pertussis between January and April 2024. Of the 29 infants that died, 23 had mothers who were not vaccinated in pregnancy.”

NHS National Medical Director, Professor Sir Stephen Powis, said: “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.”

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