Another infant has died after contracting whooping cough, bringing the total number of deaths from the disease in the current outbreak in England to 10.
Health officials have urged pregnant women to get vaccinated after new data showed the number of confirmed laboratory cases of whooping cough in England passed 10,000 in the year to June.
While most cases were in those aged 15 years or older, more than 300 have been reported in babies under three months old who are at the greatest risk from the infection.
Confirmed cases in the second quarter, from April to June, exceeded those in any quarter of the last major whooping cough outbreak in 2012.
The current outbreak is thought to have began in November last year, with the first infant death confirmed in December.
Whooping cough cases have been at high levels across all regions in England because of a combination of factors, including reduced immunity resulting from the Covid-19 pandemic when cases plummeted, health officials said.
It is a cyclical disease that peaks every three to five years with the last such increase occurring in 2016, meaning the latest peak is “overdue”.
The number of pregnant women with vaccination coverage in March was 58.9%, far lower than the peak coverage of 72.6% in March 2017.
This is despite evidence showing that vaccination at the right time in pregnancy provides 92% protection against infant death.
Dr Mary Ramsay, director of immunisation at the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), said: “Vaccination is the best defence against whooping cough and it is vital that pregnant women and young infants 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 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 own vaccines.
“With cases continuing to rise and, sadly, 10 infant deaths since the outbreak began last November, ensuring women are vaccinated in pregnancy has never been more important.
“Our thoughts and condolences are with those families who have so tragically lost their baby.”
When a baby is eight weeks old they are offered the six-in-one vaccine, which includes immunisation against whooping cough.
The second dose of the vaccine is offered at 12 weeks and the third is offered at 16 weeks.
When children are three years and four months they will be offered the four-in-one pre-school booster, which protects against pertussis (whooping cough).
Kate Brintworth, chief midwifery officer for England, described the latest figures and infant death as “tragic” and advised pregnant women to speak with their GP or maternity team with any questions about the vaccine.
Leanne Hale, respiratory nurse specialist at charity Asthma and Lung UK, said: “It’s heartbreaking that another baby has died from whooping cough. The continued increase in cases is extremely worrying, with babies most at risk from this disease.
“The charity wants to urge all those eligible to make sure they get the whooping cough vaccine and ensure that their babies get it, particularly as we head towards the autumn when infections and coughs are more common.”
