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Whooping cough is a highly contagious disease.
Another baby has died from a whooping cough infection, bringing the total number of infant deaths in England since the outbreak began to 10, officials from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said.
This death coincides with recent UKHSA data showing that confirmed laboratory cases of whooping cough in England exceeded 10,000 this year. Although most cases occur in people aged 15 or older, more than 300 cases have occurred in babies under three months of age – the group most at risk of the infection.
The outbreak is believed to have started in England last November and 10 child deaths have now been confirmed. The first death was reported in December 2023, the rest occurred between January and June 2024.
According to one Bloomberg report, Whooping cough is making a comeback in several parts of the world, with deaths in China, the Philippines, the Czech Republic and the Netherlands, and outbreaks in the US and UK, among others.
What is whooping cough?
The highly contagious disease is caused by the bacteria Bordetella pertussis, which targets the upper respiratory tract and releases toxins that can cause the airways to swell, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
What are the symptoms?
The first symptoms of whooping cough are very similar to a cold, with nasal congestion, low-grade fever and a mild cough often reported. That makes it difficult to diagnose until more serious symptoms occur.
After a week or two, symptoms can develop into “rapid, violent, and uncontrolled coughing fits,” according to the CDC, accompanied by a high-pitched “whoop” sound when inhaled at the end of the attack. Coughing fits can last up to 10 weeks.
Who is most at risk?
Children are more likely to experience the most violent symptoms of whooping cough, while babies usually do not cough but may stop breathing. Teens and adults often exhibit milder symptoms, but even then, debilitating coughs can keep them awake at night. A complicating factor is that adults without obvious signs of the disease can continue to spread the infection.
How do you treat it?
Once the diagnosis is made, preferably before the coughing begins, doctors will usually treat the infection with antibiotics. If a patient has been coughing for more than three weeks, antibiotics are not necessary because the bacteria have likely left the body and the coughing is the result of damage to the airways.
Is there a whooping cough vaccine?
In China, free vaccines are usually given in a combined injection that also protects infants against diphtheria and tetanus. There are two vaccines available in the US: one for children under the age of seven, and one for people over the age of seven. In Britain, shots are routinely given to babies, while the Philippines has warned of a possible supply shortage by May.