Five babies in England reported dead after developing whooping cough

In England, there has been a surge in cases of whooping cough, the largest outbreak in 20 years, resulting in the death of five infants between January and March.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) revealed new data on Thursday, which showed that there has been a continued rise in the number of confirmed cases of whooping cough. Specifically, there were 1,319 cases in March, taking the total number of confirmed cases during Q1 2024 to 2,793. However, it's possible that these numbers don't reflect the true scale of the issue, as it's common for mild cases to be mistaken for other respiratory illnesses during the initial stages of the infection. This means that the actual number of cases could be much higher.

More than half of the instances, specifically 51%, were found in individuals aged 15 years or more. These people often suffer from a mild, although unpleasant condition, which includes extreme fits of cough and a loud, high-pitched noise (called "whooping") when they inhale.

Even though, cases of pertussis still tend to be the most prevalent in infants that are younger than three months. These babies may not even exhibit coughing as a symptom, but instead may turn blue or experience difficulty in breathing. As a result, these infants are at the highest risk for life-threatening complications and even death.

According to Dr. Gayatri Amirthalingam, who is an epidemiologist working for the UKHSA, we are currently experiencing an extremely high number of cases. These figures are even greater than the peak recorded in 2016, and projections suggest that they will continue to rise throughout the first three months of this year. Sadly, it seems that we are on track to reach, and potentially exceed, the numbers we saw in our previous peak year of 2012, with the youngest babies being particularly affected.

While it is challenging to anticipate the future, we have noticed recurring episodes of whooping cough every three to four years that can go on for several months. Consequently, it is not surprising to see an increase in cases or at least sustained higher levels of infections for a few months.

It's a genuine worry, that's why we're spreading the word - especially to expecting mothers and caregivers of little ones - that the instances of whooping cough are increasing. It's crucial for them to make sure to receive their vaccination.

Pertussis, also known as whooping cough, is the result of a bacteria that spreads when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or shares the same air as another person. The first signs of pertussis are minor symptoms that resemble a common cold, a low-grade fever, and sporadic coughing. This stage commonly lasts for around one or two weeks, then followed by extreme coughing spells.

These occurrences often happen during the nighttime hours and can be extremely intense. Some individuals may even experience violent symptoms such as throwing up or even breaking a rib. These coughing fits can last for a lengthy 10-week period before gradually subsiding. This condition is also commonly referred to as the 100-day cough, known as whooping cough.

Medicine that fights bacteria, called antibiotics, can decrease how harmful an illness is and stop it from passing to other people. It is crucial to begin taking antibiotics within the first three weeks of getting sick, preferably before the coughing attacks start, while the bacteria are still present in the body.

Getting vaccinated is still the most effective way to protect oneself. In the United Kingdom, a combined "six-in-one" shot is administered at eight, twelve, and sixteen weeks of life, which not only safeguards against different kinds of diseases like tetanus and polio but also comprises a pre-school booster at three years of age.

Even though whooping cough vaccines can successfully prevent severe sickness and complications, they do not offer protection for an indefinite amount of time. A recent study conducted in Canada revealed that the vaccines can provide safeguard up to 80-84% against infection in the initial four years. However, the immunity starts to decrease beyond this time period.

Since 2012, a vaccination program has been in effect for mothers with whooping cough, with the objective of safeguarding infants who are too young to receive their own vaccinations. This program provides a 92% protection rate against baby mortality. Its implementation came about after a wave of whooping cough resulted in 9,367 verified cases in England, and sadly, 14 of those were in extremely young infants who had not yet received the full protection of vaccination.

Dr. Elizabeth Whittaker, a knowledgeable clinical lecturer specializing in immunology and infectious diseases in children at Imperial College London, has pointed out multiple reasons for the present epidemic.

There are a couple of concerning things happening regarding maternal vaccines. Firstly, in late 2023, the number of women getting vaccinated has decreased significantly, with an average of only 59% receiving the vaccine. This is even worse in north-east London with only 30% getting vaccinated. Another thing to be worried about is that due to the measures put in place to prevent the transmission of Covid, there has been a remarkable decrease in exposure to the bacterium during the pandemic. This has resulted in a greater number of people susceptible to getting and transmitting the infection.

The impact of Covid-19 has affected children in various ways. Some kids have missed getting their preschool booster, which is crucial for keeping them safe and healthy. A healthcare worker named Whittaker shared that in Hammersmith and Fulham, London, only 62% of children have received the vital booster shot, resulting in a significantly low level of protection.

The situation we're in is quite challenging as many adults have lost their immunity due to receiving the vaccine when they were young, and primary school-aged kids haven't received the booster shot. As a result, the virus is spreading quickly among adults and in primary schools. Moreover, pregnant women don't have enough protective vaccine, which puts their babies at risk of severe illness if they come in contact with the virus. It's a combination of several factors that's making the situation worse.

Furthermore, it is customary for us to observe a pertussis surge every few years, but due to the pandemic, we failed to notice it. Therefore, the surge is delayed and expected to be substantial. The reason being, there are more susceptible people in one go.