7,599 whooping cough cases, including 9 infant deaths, in UK Jan-May 2024; pregnant women urged to get vaccinated.

UK sees a five-year high in whooping cough cases, with 7,599 confirmed cases from Jan-May 2024, including 9 infant deaths. Pregnant women and young infants are urged to receive timely vaccinations against the cyclical disease, which peaks every 3-5 years. Vaccination uptake among pregnant women has decreased, with coverage in March 2024 at 58.9%, down from the peak coverage of 72.6% in March 2017.