Baby dies from whooping cough as cases increase

The first signs are similar to a cold, with a runny nose and sore throat.

After about a week, the infection can develop into coughing bouts that last a few minutes and are typically worse at night.

Young babies may make a distinctive “whoop” or have difficulty breathing after a bout of coughing.

The bacterial infection spreads through coughs and sneezes.

People of all ages can catch whooping cough, but it is most serious for young children and babies.

Nine babies have died from whooping cough in England since November 2023, according to the UK Health Security Agency.

Its latest figures for England show 2,591 confirmed cases in May, with a total of 7,599 since January.

PHS has encouraged pregnant women to ensure they are immunised against infection.

New babies cannot be immunised until they are at least eight weeks old.