CASES of the highly contagious disease called the ‘whooping cough’ have tripled in the United Kingdom.
The bug, also called the ‘100-day cough’ are increasing in wales and England.
According to UK government data, as many as 77 individuals could have been infected by this bug in England and Wales between December 3 and 10.
This number is over double the 35 cases reported in the week ending in November 13.
The agency said that places like London, North West, and South East have been particularly affected by the whooping cough outbreak.
However, the increase in such infections is not really new, and cases of whooping cough have been increasing steadily for 2022.
According to UK Health Security Agency, cases of the said illness have increased by roughly 230 percent compared to 2022.
There were also 856 suspected cases of whooping cough in England and Wales between July and the end of November 2023.
Officially known as pertussis, whooping cough is a highly contagious bacterial infection of breathing tubes, as well as the lungs.
Experts believe this particular surge in whooping cough cases could be a hangover from COVID-19 pandemic restrictions.
According to the N.H.S., the whooping cough’s symptoms include a mild fever, runny nose, sore throat, and cough, gradually developing into a hacking cough and then a whooping one.
And, according to the World Health Organization, whooping cough is most dangerous in infants, and babies under the age of 6 months have a higher chance of developing breathing difficulties, pneumonia, and seizures.
This is why health experts recommend pregnant women and young babies at 8, 12, and 16 weeks old are offered to get vaccinated.
Meanwhile, individuals infected with the disease are most contagious up to about 3 weeks after the cough starts.
