Fresh warning over ‘highly-contagious’ cough that ‘lasts 100 days’ and ‘fractures ribs’ as cases soar 250%
BRITS are falling sick with a "highly contagious" cough that can last up to 100 days, experts have warned.
Whooping cough has seen a 250 per cent increase in cases compared to last year, as vaccine rates have plummeted to a seven-year low.
As many as 716 could have been infected in England and Wales between July and November 26 - more than treble the 217 cases reported during the same period in 2022, government data reveals.
Prof Beate Kampmann, of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, told The Sun: "The rise in cases might be because of missed vaccination appointments, possibly during the pandemic.
"Severe disease is almost entirely preventable if the mother is vaccinated in pregnancy and her protective antibody reach the baby through the placenta and protect until the baby gets its own vaccines.
"It is therefore important that everyone looks at their vaccination records to check if they might have missed this vaccine, which is given with the routine childhood immunisations and in pregnancy."
Vaccination rates have fallen in the UK since the Covid pandemic.
The latest UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) data on the maternal whooping cough vaccine programme shows that uptake of the jab has dropped to its lowest level in seven years.
Figures for 2022 show an average uptake across England of 61.5 per cent, a decrease of 3.9 per cent since 2021 and 7.6 per cent from 2020.
Coverage in London is particularly low at just 41.4 per cent.
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The bacterial infection, known as pertussis and the 100-day cough due to its long-lasting symptoms, can cause severe coughing that can lead to vomiting and broken ribs.
The NHS says it may last up to several weeks or months.
Babies under six months old with whooping cough have an increased risk of pneumonia and seizures.
Globally, pertussis kills hundreds of thousands of children annually, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO).
Speaking to The Sun, Dr Gayatri Amirthalingam of the UKHSA, said lockdown measures introduced during the pandemic are also to blame for the surge in cases.
Which areas are worst affected?
The Notification of Infectious Diseases report (NOIDS), which tracks suspected infectious disease cases in England and Wales, revealed cases in both countries.
It does not specify the ages of those suspected to have the bug.
Some 52 cases were reported in the week ending November 26, almost 50 per cent more than the 35 cases in the week ending October 29.
The South East is one of the hardest-hit areas in the UK within the last week - with 11 suspected cases.
The West Midlands and North West come joint second, with nine cases each.
Yorkshire and Humber, London and Wales all reported six suspected cases - coming in third.
The North East comes in fourth with four cases, with the East of England firth with just one case.
Meanwhile, the East Midlands and the South West both reported no cases.
How can it be treated?
The NHS advises people see their GP if they or their child have the symptoms of whooping cough, or have had a cough for more than three weeks that is getting worse.
If you or your child are having significant breathing difficulties, fits or signs of pneumonia call 999 or go to your nearest A&E.
Children under six months and people with severe symptoms will normally be admitted to hospital for treatment.
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Those diagnosed in the first three weeks of the infection may be given antibiotics, but after this point, they are not considered helpful.
While people recover, medical professionals advise plenty of rest, fluids, and paracetamol or ibuprofen to treat a fever.
Whooping cough symptoms
WHOOPING cough (pertussis) is a bacterial infection of the lungs and breathing tubes.
The first signs of whooping cough are similar to a cold, such as a runny nose and sore throat (a high temperature is uncommon).
After about a week, you or your child:
- will get coughing bouts that last for a few minutes and are worse at night
- may make a "whoop" sound – a gasp for breath between coughs (young babies and some adults may not "whoop")
- may have difficulty breathing after a coughing bout and may turn blue or grey (young infants)
- may bring up a thick mucus, which can make you vomit
- may become very red in the face (more common in adults)
The cough may last for several weeks or months.
Source: NHS