Parents urged to get children vaccinated following increase in whooping cough cases

Parents have been urged to get their children vaccinated following an increase in whooping cough cases in Scotland.

It comes after the latest figures from Public Health Scotland (PHS) showed 1,084 laboratory confirmed cases of the bacterial infection recorded in Scotland so far this year.

Analysis of the first three months of the year showed that most cases have been in the 10-14 age group.

These numbers are only reported cases – cases which have been presented to and logged by health professionals – like your GP.

Also known as pertussis or the “100-day cough” – because of how long it can take to recover from – experts say the infection is a cyclical disease with peaks seen every three to five years.

Just 73 cases were reported in Scotland in 2023.

It comes after previous peaks, with 1896 cases in 2012 and 1075 recorded cases in 2016.

Scotland

What is whooping cough and why are case numbers rising across the UK?

Five babies have died after being diagnosed with the disease in England – with cases also rapidly rising in Scotland.

According to the UK Health Security Agency, seven babies have died from whooping cough in the UK since the start of the year – although none have been recorded in Scotland – and public health experts say they are expecting more, so it’s “vital” that young children and pregnant mothers get their vaccines.

Professor Steve Turner said: “There’s a lot of concern about this rise in cases, the numbers in 2024 across the whole of Europe have risen ten fold.

“Part of it is the natural ebb and flow but we’re also seeing a reluctance to get vaccinated and we know that’s the best way to prevent against it.

“We know there’s been at least seven cases of babies dying from whooping cough this summer and sadly, we’re expecting more.”

Dr Sam Ghebrehewet, head of vaccination and immunisation at PHS said: “Being vaccinated is the best thing you can do to help protect against serious vaccine preventable diseases.

“Some of the diseases that these vaccines protect against have almost disappeared from the UK as a result of so many people being vaccinated against them over the years. We need to maintain high vaccination uptake rates to reduce the risk of infections occurring.