Whooping cough cases on the rise

RATES of whooping cough, also known as pertussis, are continuing to rise, according to public health midwife Joanna Melia.

- By LAURA CROSS

Whooping cough can risk serious illness and complications in babies during the first weeks of their lives, including pneumonia, brain damage and even death, the NHS Humber Health Partnership said.

Thankfully, vaccination rates in pregnancy in the Humber and North Yorkshire were the best in England last year, but Joanna said it's important to keep these numbers high to protect as many babies as possible.

She said: "Whooping cough can be really serious for babies so it's just not worth the risk of not being vaccinated.