Essex parents warned after several confirmed cases of whooping cough
There have been several confirmed cases of whooping cough in Essex, the local authority has warned.
Families in Essex are being urged to get vaccinated, following several confirmed cases of whooping cough in the county.
Date published by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) shows there has been a continued increase in pertussis (whooping cough) cases at the start of this year, with 553 confirmed in England in January, compared with 858 cases for the whole of last year (2023).
It’s believed the current increase is coming at a time when there has been a steady decline in uptake of the vaccine in pregnant women and in children.
The UKHSA and local authorities are reminding mums-to-be to get protected against whooping cough so that their young baby has protection from birth against this serious disease.
Reports show there were 22 infants aged under 3 months diagnosed with whooping cough.
UKHSA warns that infants, who are too young to be fully vaccinated, are at greater risk of severe disease, including death.
Vaccination of pregnant women is 97% effective at preventing death in young infants from whooping cough.
Dr Danny Showell, Public Health Consultant at Essex County Council says there's not been a significant outbreak yet - but there's a risk of further incidents.
He said: “Pregnant women are being offered the whooping cough vaccination. It's not because there's a danger of the pregnant woman herself getting whooping cough, but it brings immunity to the unborn child. So, when the child is born, because the most serious infections are in those children under the age of 1 and even younger. It's very important that that anybody offered the whooping cough vaccination takes it up or has it available for their children because it is circulating within the community.
“We want people to be protected. The vaccines are one of the best public health interventions that are available to us.”
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