Dr. Mary Ramsay, immunisation director at the UK Health Security Agency, emphasized the importance of timely vaccination for pregnant women and young infants, stating that it is “vital that pregnant women and young infants receive their vaccines at the right time.”
Another baby has died from whooping cough amid a surge in infections. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) confirmed that ten infants have now died in what is considered the largest outbreak in 40 years. In June alone, there were 2,427 laboratory-confirmed cases, bringing the total for this year to 10,493, a significant increase from the 858 cases recorded throughout 2023.
So far in 2024, there have been 328 confirmed cases in babies under three months old, the age group at greatest risk of fatal complications. The outbreak has been attributed to waning immunity and declining vaccination rates.
Dr. Mary Ramsay extended her thoughts and condolences to the families who have lost their babies, stating, “Vaccination is the best defence against whooping cough and it is vital that pregnant women and young infants receive their vaccines at the right time. Pregnant women are offered a whooping cough vaccine in every pregnancy, ideally between 20 and 32 weeks. This passes protection to their baby in the womb so that they are protected from birth in the first months of their life when they are most vulnerable and before they can receive their own vaccines.”
She further stressed the importance of vaccination during pregnancy, especially given the rising number of cases and the ten infant deaths since the outbreak began in November 2023. The latest death is part of this ongoing outbreak.
While the latest monthly total of 2,427 confirmed cases in June is a decrease from the 3,052 cases in May, offering hope that the outbreak may have peaked, whooping cough, clinically known as pertussis, remains a serious bacterial infection affecting the lungs.
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