A whooping cough epidemic has broken out strongly in the UK in the first four months of the year. The Health Security Agency (UKHSA) reported five children dying from the infection. The number of cases increased from 1,300 in March to over 2,700 in April, with more than 50% of cases occurring in people aged 15 years and older. Children under 5 years old are experiencing serious complications and death due to the disease.
Since December 2023, the number of whooping cough cases has been on the rise across the UK and in several countries worldwide. The disease has outbreak cycles that peak every three to five years, with the last increase in 2016. During the Covid-19 pandemic, case numbers fell to very low levels. Dr. Gayatri Amirthalingam, a consultant epidemiologist at UKHSA, expressed concern about the current outbreak and recommended raising public awareness about the disease, especially among pregnant women.
Whooping cough is caused by a bacteria transmitted through the respiratory tract. Symptoms initially resemble a cold with mild fever and occasional cough, which progresses to severe coughing that can cause nausea, vomiting, or broken ribs. Antibiotics can reduce the severity of the disease if administered within the first three weeks of illness. Vaccination remains the safest prevention measure, with children receiving the “6 in one” shot at specific ages.
The pertussis vaccine is effective in preventing severe symptoms and complications, but immunity diminishes over time. To protect newborns, pregnant women in the UK have been offered whooping cough prevention programs since 2012. The disease has also reappeared in many areas in Vietnam since Tet. Public health efforts are crucial to control the spread of whooping cough and protect vulnerable populations from severe outcomes.