A baby whose mother was unvaccinated against whooping cough has died after contracting the infection.
The death is the first caused by whooping cough in the UK this year, just as vaccination rates are taking a nosedive across the nation.
The infant, who is believed to be below the age of one, fell ill and died between March and June earlier this year, the UK Health Security Agency said.
The same agency is responsible for defending the public from threats such as infectious diseases.
The disease can be fatal
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Last year, 11 children died from whooping cough.
Confirming the tragic news, the UKHSA deputy director Dr Gayatri Amirthalingam said: “Sadly, with a further infant death in the second quarter of 2025, we are again reminded how severe whooping cough can be for very young babies.
“Our thoughts and condolences are with the family who have so tragically lost their baby.”
Just last week, the organisation warned that the vaccination rates for primary school children have hit the lowest point for more than a decade.
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Around one in every five children who are starting school for the first time this week are unprotected against potentially fatal diseases, such as whooping cough, polio, tetanus and diphtheria.
Whooping cough, a highly contagious disease which also goes by the name pertussis, is an infection of the lungs and breathing tubes.
The NHS warns that it “spreads very easily”, emphasising the importance of babies, children and pregnant women getting vaccinated against it.
The initial symptoms are similar to that of a simple cold, such as a runny nose and sore throat, according to the health service.
One in five primary school children are not vaccinated against deathly diseases
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After around a week, other symptoms such as the following might appear:
- Coughing fits that last for a few minutes and worsens at night
- Cause you to gasp for breath making a “whoop” sound, which is more prevalent amongst babies
- Young infants might turn blue or have breathing difficulties after coughing bouts
- Thick mucus, causing individuals to vomit
- Adults are more inclined to turn red
As it stands, the UK’s vaccination rate has dropped below the World Health’s Organisation’s 95 per cent threshold for herd immunity.
Starting in 2026, the NHS will vaccinate all babies against chickenpox in a new MMR vaccine, updating the previous vaccine which protects the infants against measles, mumps and rubella.