Whooping cough cases rise to over 10,000

UK Health Security Agency, 8 August 2024

New whooping cough data published today by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) shows laboratory confirmed cases rising to over 10,000. UKHSA urges pregnant women to get vaccinated to protect their babies from birth onwards.

The latest data for England shows cases of whooping cough peaked in May but continue at high levels, with 2,427 cases reported in June. This follows 555 cases in January 2024, increasing to an updated figure (1) of 3,052 in May – bringing the total number of laboratory confirmed cases from January to June 2024 to 10,493.

Confirmed cases in the second quarter (April to June) of 2024 are very high, exceeding those in any quarter of the last major 2012 outbreak year.

Sadly, there has been one further infant death in June, bringing the total to 10 since the current outbreak began in November last year (one in December 2023 and 9 between January to end June 2024).

Young babies are at highest risk of severe complications and death from whooping cough. Evidence from England shows that vaccination at the right time in pregnancy is highly effective, giving 92% protection against infant death.

From January to June 2024, while most cases (55%, 5,769) were in those aged 15 years or older who usually get a mild illness, high numbers (328) continue to be reported in babies under 3 months of age who are at greatest risk from the infection.