Whooping cough has increased as cases rise in Cornwall

A new map shows a massive recent increase as the number of suspected cases of whooping cough diagnosed in Cornwall rises faster than ever this year. The figures come after it was revealed that five babies have died as infections from the ‘100-day cough’ continue to spread.
New figures from the UK Health Safety Agency (UKHSA) show 1,319 laboratory-confirmed cases in England in March. This is followed by 556 cases in January and 918 in February, bringing the total to 2,793 cases in 2024.
By this time last year, there were only 30 laboratory-confirmed cases. Tragically, the UKHSA has now confirmed that five infants – who are most at risk of severe complications – died in the first quarter of the year between January and March.

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Although the UKHSA has not published data showing the locations where outbreaks have been confirmed, it is possible to map whooping cough notifications. These are alerts that GPs are required to send to the UKHSA every time they diagnose a case of what they believe to be whooping cough.
So far this year, in the week ending April 21, GPs have diagnosed 26 suspected cases in Cornwall, including three in the past week. This means that the infection spread more quickly, as there were only three cases in mid-February, which remained the same for the next month or more.

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More worryingly, there appears to have been a massive increase in new infections in recent weeks. The weekly figure jumped from a high of four – after showing just one new case a week for most of the year so far – to 11.

New infections in Cornwall this year

Neighboring Devon has had more than twice as many suspected cases, with 66 so far this year and 16 in the past week.
You can see the suspected cases in Cornwall compared to other areas with our interactive map.

Cases have increased in England due to a “combination” of factors, including the cyclical nature of the disease and the impact and isolation of the Covid-19 pandemic, which has led to reduced immunity in the population.
Vaccine uptake has also declined in recent years.

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Dr Gayatri Amirthalingam, consultant epidemiologist for the UKHSA, said: “Vaccination remains the best defense against whooping cough and it is vital that pregnant women and young children receive their vaccines at the right time.
“Pregnant women are given a whooping cough vaccine in every pregnancy, ideally between 20 and 32 weeks. This provides protection to their baby in the womb so that it is protected from birth in the first months of life, when they are most vulnerable and before they can receive their own vaccines.
“All babies are given three doses of 6 in 1 at 8, 12 and 16 weeks of age to protect against whooping cough and other serious diseases such as diphtheria and polio, with a preschool booster given at 3 years and 4 months. .
“Whooping cough can affect people of all ages, but for very young children it can be extremely serious. Our thoughts and condolences go out to those families who have lost their child so tragically.”

Four in 10 expectant mothers do not get the maternal pertussis vaccination, while about one in 12 infants do not receive the 6-in-1 vaccine by their first birthday.
Whooping cough – known clinically as pertussis, but sometimes known as the “100-day cough” because of the time it takes to shake it off – is a bacterial infection of the lungs and breathing tubes. It spreads very easily and can sometimes cause serious problems.
While around half of confirmed cases in England up to March this year were in teenagers and adults aged 15 and over (51%, or 1,420 cases), 108 were seen in babies under three months old , who are most at risk of severe. disease and too young to be fully vaccinated. This is more than double the number of cases over the entire past year in infants of this age (48).
NHS National Medical Director Professor Sir Stephen Powis said: “With cases of whooping cough continuing to rise sharply across the country and today’s figures sadly showing five child deaths, it is vital that families come forward to get the protection they need.
“If you are pregnant and have not yet been vaccinated 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 are showing symptoms ask for an urgent appointment see a doctor or get help from NHS 111.”