Whooping cough death as vaccination rate plummets

A baby whose mother had not been vaccinated against whooping cough has died after contracting the infection, health officials have confirmed.

- TOM WATLING

It is the first death from whooping cough in the UK this year and comes at a time when vaccination rates are falling to levels not seen in more than a decade.

Whooping cough, also known as pertussis, is a highly infectious disease that affects the lungs and airways. It can cause severe illness and death in babies, who are particularly vulnerable.

The child, believed to be under the age of one, became unwell and died between March and June, according to the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA). The agency, which monitors infectious disease threats, confirmed the case this week.