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Whooping Cough Alert: Parents Urged to Recognize Deadly Sound
12 Feb
Summary
- Parents urged to recognize whooping cough's distinctive 'whooping' cough sound.
- Young babies are at highest risk of severe illness and potential death.
- Vaccination during pregnancy offers 90% protection to newborns.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has issued a critical warning to parents, urging them to identify the specific sound associated with whooping cough, a potentially fatal bacterial infection. Early symptoms mimic a common cold, but after one to two weeks, uncontrolled coughing fits that can cause vomiting and a characteristic 'whoop' sound develop.
Young infants who have not completed their initial vaccine doses are at the highest risk of severe outcomes, including breathing pauses and pneumonia, with rare fatalities occurring. Routine childhood vaccinations protect against the disease, and a new dose at 18 months is being introduced for infants born from July 2024 onwards.
Vaccination during pregnancy is highly effective, offering up to 90% protection against infant deaths from whooping cough by passing immunity to the unborn baby. This measure aims to safeguard newborns in their vulnerable first weeks before they can receive their own vaccines.
