‘As expected, we are now seeing cases of whooping cough increase again so it’s vital pregnant women ensure they get vaccinated to protect their baby.”
The name comes from the gasp for breath between coughs, which can make a ‘whoop’ sound.
Young children may turn blue or grey due to difficulty breathing.
The disease can last for weeks or even months, giving it the nickname ‘the 100-day cough’.
Health service figures show babies born to vaccinated women had a 91% reduced risk of becoming ill with the disease in the first few weeks after birth.
Dr Gayatri Amirthalingam, a consultant epidemiologist at UKHSA, said: ‘Before the introduction of routine immunisation, whooping cough used to affect tens of thousands of people.
‘Thanks to vaccination this has dropped dramatically but the infection hasn’t gone away completely as neither infection nor vaccination can provide life-long protection.
‘Social distancing and lockdown measures imposed across the UK during the Covid-19 pandemic had a significant impact on the spread of infections, including whooping cough.