Warning to parents as five babies die from whooping cough

more than three times the number recorded in the whole of last year.

Health officials describe whooping cough as a "cyclical disease", which means it peaks every few years. With whooping cough this is every three to five years. Dr Amirthalingam added: "Vaccination remains the best defence against whooping cough and it is vital that pregnant women and young infants receive their vaccines at the right time."

Professor Sir Stephen Powis, national medical director for the NHS in England, said: "With cases of whooping cough continuing to rise sharply across the country, and today's figures sadly showing five infant deaths, it is vital that families come forward to get the protection they need. Young babies may also make a distinctive "whoop" or have difficulty breathing after a bout of coughing, though not all babies make this noise which means whooping cough can be hard to recognise.

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