Officials from the UK Health Protection Agency (UKHSA) said another baby has died from pertussis infection, bringing the total number of infant deaths in England since the outbreak began to 10.
This death coincides with recent UKHSA figures showing that the number of laboratory-confirmed cases of whooping cough in England this year has passed 10,000. While most cases are in people aged 15 or over, more than 300 cases are in children under three months old – the group most at risk from infection.
The outbreak is believed to have begun in England in November last year and 10 infant deaths have been confirmed so far. The first death occurred in December 2023 and the rest occurred between January and June 2024.
according to a Bloomberg reports, Pertussis is making a comeback in many parts of the world, causing deaths in China, the Philippines, the Czech Republic and the Netherlands, and outbreaks in countries such as the US and UK.
What is whooping cough?
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), this highly contagious disease is caused by a bacterium called Bordetella pertussis, which affects the upper respiratory tract and releases toxins that can cause inflammation of the airways.
what are the symptoms?
The early symptoms of whooping cough are similar to those of a common cold – often a stuffy nose, mild fever and a slight cough. This can make it difficult to diagnose until more severe symptoms develop.
After a week or two, symptoms can turn into “rapid, violent and uncontrollable coughing fits,” according to the CDC, accompanied by a loud “whoop” sound when breathing out at the end of the fit. Coughing fits can last up to 10 weeks.
Who is most at risk?
Children are more likely to have the most severe symptoms of whooping cough, and while babies don’t usually cough, they can stop breathing. Teens and adults often have milder symptoms, but even then, debilitating coughing fits can keep them up at night. A complicating factor is that adults can continue to spread the infection even when they have no obvious signs of illness.
How do you treat it?
Once diagnosed, preferably before the cough begins, doctors will typically treat the infection with antibiotics. If a patient has been coughing for more than three weeks, antibiotics are not needed because the bacteria have probably left the body and the cough is a result of damage to the airways.
Is there a vaccine available for whooping cough?
In China, free vaccines are usually given in a combined shot that also protects infants against diphtheria and tetanus. In the US, two vaccines are available – one for children under seven and one for those older than seven. In the UK, vaccines are routinely given to infants, while the Philippines has warned of a possible shortage of supply by May.
