Just when we thought we had enough of mysterious coughs after Covid, another old enemy has made a strong—and deadly—comeback.
Whooping cough, also known as pertussis or the “100-day cough,” has spiked in England to levels not seen in over 20 years.
In 2024 alone, almost 15,000 cases were confirmed—17 times more than in 2023.
Sadly, 11 babies under three months lost their lives during this outbreak, making it the deadliest in a decade.
Why Is Whooping Cough Surging Again?
Health experts believe the Covid-19 lockdowns played a major role.
With people socializing less during the pandemic, exposure to many common infections—including whooping cough—dropped.
That also meant our natural immunity to certain illnesses weakened over time.
So now, with normal life resuming, whooping cough has returned with a vengeance.
The outbreak hit its peak in May and June 2024, when over a third of all cases were recorded.
Even after that spike, infection rates stayed worryingly high for the rest of the year.
Who’s Getting Sick?
While babies are the most vulnerable, teenagers and adults made up the bulk of the cases.
In fact, nearly 60% of the 2024 cases were in people aged 15 and older.
Kids between 10 and 14 made up another significant chunk.
But it’s the youngest babies—those under three months—who are at the highest risk.
They’re too young to be fully vaccinated and often experience the most severe symptoms.
The Symptoms: More Than Just a Cough
At first, whooping cough looks like your average cold—runny nose, sore throat, mild fever.
But within days, things get worse.
The hallmark of the illness is uncontrollable coughing fits that can last for minutes, often followed by a “whooping” sound as the person gasps for air.
It can also cause thick mucus, vomiting, and even turn your face red from the strain.
A Drop in Vaccination Is Making Things Worse
One of the biggest concerns right now?
Not enough pregnant women are getting vaccinated.
The pertussis vaccine, which is offered between 16 and 32 weeks of pregnancy, helps pass on antibodies to the unborn baby, giving them protection for the first couple of months of life.
But uptake has plummeted—in some parts of London, only 25% of pregnant women are getting the jab.
Elsewhere in the capital and in Birmingham, the numbers aren’t much better.
Health officials stress that getting vaccinated during pregnancy is the best way to protect newborns until they’re old enough to receive their own shots.
A Look Back: Vaccination Saved Lives
Before the pregnancy vaccine program began in 2012, dozens of infants died from whooping cough every year.
Since then, there have been 32 recorded deaths, and most of those babies had mothers who were unvaccinated during pregnancy.
It’s a stark reminder of how effective vaccination can be—and what happens when we let our guard down.
What to Do if You Suspect Whooping Cough
Think someone might have it? Doctors usually prescribe one of four antibiotics—clarithromycin, erythromycin, azithromycin, or co-trimoxazole.
For kids, liquid forms are used, and the dosage depends on their weight.
While antibiotics might not reduce the intensity of the cough, they stop the spread within 48 hours, which is crucial for protecting others.
But if someone’s already been coughing for weeks, antibiotics won’t help them recover faster—they’re mainly useful early on.
A Pattern Repeating Itself
Whooping cough isn’t new—it tends to rise every five years or so.
The last spike was in 2016, with nearly 6,000 cases. Before the pandemic, yearly cases hovered between 2,500 and 4,500.
During the height of Covid, though, that dropped to just a few hundred because of lockdowns and distancing.
Now, with society reopened, we’re seeing similar rebounds not just with whooping cough, but with illnesses like flu and RSV too.
It’s Still Not the Worst We’ve Seen—But It’s a Warning
Even with the recent surge, we’re still far from the massive outbreaks of the 1940s, when up to 170,000 cases were recorded annually in England.
But that doesn’t mean we can relax.
The infection spreads easily—just like measles—through coughing and sneezing.
People can be contagious from about six days after they first get cold-like symptoms up to three weeks into their coughing fits.
For older kids and adults, whooping cough might just mean cracked ribs, sore muscles, or even ear infections.
But for the very young, it can be fatal.
So, What’s Next?
The UK Health Security Agency is urging pregnant women to get vaccinated to protect their babies.
And with infection rates still higher than normal, health workers are working to ramp up awareness and access to vaccines.
Whether you’re expecting a baby, have kids, or just want to stay informed, this outbreak is a reminder of how quickly things can change—and how important it is to stay protected.