Fears of recent UK epidemic after worst outbreak of illness for 40 years

The UK may be grappling with its worst whooping cough outbreak in four decades, sparking fears of a new epidemic on the horizon. This week, families were urged to ensure they’re jabbed against the disease after the tragic deaths of five infants raised alarms for potential further heartbreak.

Health boffins are sounding the alarm that we could be on the cusp of the largest surge in whooping cough cases in 40 years if we don’t take immediate action. Parents are being advised to keep an eye out for tell-tale signs in their kids, such as a runny nose, sore throat, and the characteristic “whooping” sound when coughing, and to seek medical help without delay.

A staggering 1,319 cases were reported in England this March by the UK Health Security Agency, a significant jump from 918 in February and 556 in January. To put it into perspective, there were only 858 reported cases of the debilitating “100-day cough”, which can also lead to brain damage, throughout the entirety of last year.

Experts are pointing fingers at a drop in vaccination rates for the national spike since the start of the year, coupled with reduced immunity levels due to less social interaction during lockdowns. The latest figures reveal a worrying decline in the uptake of the vaccine given to pregnant women to shield their newborns plummeting from over 70% in 2017 to just 58% last year.

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It’s preventable, but the percentage of two year olds receiving their routine six-in-one jabs, which includes protection against whooping cough, has dipped from 96.3% in 2014 to 92.9% in 2023, according to the Mirror. Tragically, all the babies who succumbed to pertussis, the official name for whooping cough, were younger than three months and became sick within the first quarter of the year.

NHS England’s top doc, Professor Sir Stephen Powis, has issued a stark warning as whooping cough cases skyrocket, leading to the tragic deaths of five little ones. He urged: “With cases of whooping cough continuing to rise sharply across the country, and today’s figures sadly showing five infant deaths, it is vital that families come forward to get the protection they need. If you are pregnant and have not been vaccinated yet, or your child is not up to date with whooping cough or other vaccinations, please contact your GP as soon as possible.”

Meanwhile, Bath University’s whooping cough expert, Professor Andrew Preston, chimed in on the heartbreaking news, saying: “It is extremely sad news to hear of the deaths of five babies, especially from a vaccine-preventable disease. While no vaccine is perfect, pertussis vaccination of mums during pregnancy and of infants protects the babies and infants who are the most vulnerable to this serious and sometimes fatal disease.”

He also highlighted a worrying trend, noting: “Vaccination rates in infants have declined compared to pre-pandemic levels. Uptake of the maternal booster also dropped. This results in many more young babies and infants susceptible to infection. It is tragic to see babies dying and with cases on the rise it is vital for vaccination rates to recover.”

Royal College of GPs chair Professor Kamila Hawthorne has urged parents to ensure their children’s vaccinations are up to date. She said: “We would urge all parents to check their children’s vaccinations, and their own, are up to date, and if they’re not, to make an appointment as soon as possible. It is also important for pregnant mothers to check their vaccination status and get vaccinated if they have not been immunised.”

She further advised: “If you, or a member of your family, does exhibit symptoms of whooping cough, especially a heavy wheezing cough that disrupts sleep, or a change in the colour of the face, then seek medical assistance.”

Professor Paul Hunter, an expert in emerging infectious diseases from the World Health Organisation and the University of East Anglia, warned: “This current year looks like we may be seeing more cases than we have seen in any of the last 40 years. The infection can affect anyone who is not vaccinated and even some who are.”

He added: “However, the main risk of death or severe long-term complications is seen in young children, especially those under three months old. It is this group that are most at risk of death and longer-term problems such as brain damage.”

Dr Gayatri Amirthalingam, a consultant epidemiologist at UKHSA, expressed her condolences to families affected by whooping cough. She said: “Whooping cough can affect people of all ages but for very young babies it can be extremely serious. Our thoughts and condolences are with those families who have so tragically lost their baby.”

Not all infants produce the characteristic ‘whooping’ sound when they cough, which can make the disease more difficult to identify. Other symptoms include bouts of coughing that last several minutes and are typically worse at night, potentially followed by breathing difficulties.

The last significant surge in cases was in 2016, with 5,949 instances reported in England. However, health officials are concerned that this year could see even higher numbers.

In the first quarter of 2024 alone, there have been 2,793 cases.

Professor Hunter highlighted other factors that make the UK particularly susceptible, including the fact that children who were not vaccinated due to the MMR jab scare initiated by discredited academic Andrew Wakefield are now in their early twenties and could contribute to the spread of the disease.

Since the introduction of the whooping cough vaccine for pregnant women in 2013, there have been 26 deaths in babies too young to be protected by infant vaccinations. Half of the cases so far this year have been in children under 15, with the highest rates seen in those under three months old.

A mother whose one-month-old daughter spent ten days in a coma due to whooping cough is urging expectant mothers to get vaccinated. Polly Deehy developed a rattling cough and struggled with her breathing at just two weeks old.

After four days of coughing at home last month, she suddenly turned blue, prompting parents Kerry Pearson, 26, and Jack Deehy, 29, to rush her to Darent Valley Hospital in Dartford, Kent.

Her condition worsened and she was transferred to St Mary’s Hospital in London, where she was diagnosed with whooping cough and placed on a ventilator. Polly is now awake and breathing on her own.

Kerry expressed her relief saying: “I’ve never been more relieved. It was the best thing ever. There’s no evidence of any lasting problems, but she might have a bit of weakness in her lungs. Time will tell. I just want people to be aware. You should have the whooping cough vaccine when you’re pregnant. If you’re not offered it then please demand it.”

Also echoing this sentiment was Molly Pickering, 25, based in Co Durham, whose month-old daughters spent two weeks at Newcastle Royal Victoria Infirmary’s intensive care battling whooping cough. She recollected being offered the vaccine while she was pregnant but lamented over insufficient information about its severity, mentioning how a woman caring for Rosie said: “At the hospital, the woman who was looking after Rosie said they had seen nothing like this [the number of whooping cough cases].”