Whooping cough: Hundreds of cases confirmed in Northern Ireland

The PHA has said that increases in cases of the illness are usually seen every three to four years and that another was due in 2020

There has been a significant rise in whooping cough cases in Northern Ireland, the Public Health Agency (PHA) has said.

There have been 769 laboratory confirmed cases in Northern Ireland from the start of the year to 5 May.

That compares to two cases between 2021 and 2023.

It comes as it emerged that five babies had died in England from whooping cough.

Whooping cough is a highly contagious serious bacterial respiratory infection and can be fatal for babies and young people.

The PHA is urging pregnant women and the parents of young children to book an appointment for the pertussis vaccine.

The vaccine also provides protection against diphtheria, tetanus, polio, Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) and hepatitis B.

It is given as part of the childhood vaccination programme to children at eight, 12 and 16 weeks of age and at aged three years, four months and is available at GP practices.

The PHA is urging pregnant women and the parents of young children to book an appointment for the pertussis vaccine

Why are cases rising?

Cases of the disease have also risen significantly in the rest of the UK.

Known as pertussis or "100-day cough", the infection is a cyclical disease with peaks seen every three to five years.

The PHA has said an increases in cases of the illness was due in 2020.

"I think the lockdown measures in and around Covid, when people were isolating and using masks and the respiratory hygiene that everybody was more aware of, all of those stopped this happening," the PHA's Louise Flanagan said.

"So it's almost been delayed in a way, but we're now seeing this big increase now."

She said the last significant increases of the disease in Northern Ireland had been in 2012 and 2016

"At the moment it feels like its going to be bigger [than 2016] and we're not quite sure whether it's peaked or if it's going to continue increasing in Northern Ireland," she said.

What is whooping cough?

The first signs are similar to a cold, with a runny nose and sore throat.

After about a week, the infection can develop into coughing bouts that last a few minutes and are typically worse at night.

Young babies may make a distinctive "whoop" or have difficulty breathing after a bout of coughing.

The bacterial infections spreads through coughs and sneezes.

People of all ages can catch whooping cough, but it is most serious for young children and babies.