Almost 3,000 cases have been reported so far this year, three times the total for the whole of 2023.Experts blame the surge in infections on a fall in vaccination uptake, a less effective jab and reduced community immunity caused by lockdowns. It is believed that three of the five grieving mothers had jabs during pregnancy to protect their children.
She wrote in an article for the Daily Mail: 'There is, inevitably, a lag between deaths and official reported figures, so already, by mid-May, the number of deaths is thought to be higher. It is the latest disease associated with the Victorian era to make a comeback, with similar outbreaks of measles and scarlet fever.
'Whooping cough can affect people of all ages but for very young babies it can be extremely serious.' Paul Hunter, professor in medicine at the University of East Anglia, said the latest rise in cases was fuelled by factors including falling vaccination uptake and reduced community transmission during lockdowns.
GPs and the wider NHS have been alerted and are being encouraged to test anyone with symptoms to allow close monitoring of numbers