Three More Babies Succumb to Whooping Cough Outbreak

Whopping cough claims three babies' lives in England and Wales in October making it as one of the deadliest outbreak in the last two decades.

The resurgence of the highly contagious bacterial infection has surprised doctors, a report on the issue from the Health Protection Agency (HPA) said.

Whooping Cough / Pertussis - Causes - Symptoms - Diagnosis - Treatment - Prevention
Whooping cough is a respiratory tract infection caused by a bacterium called Bordetella pertussis. DPT vaccine helps to prevent the infection.

There are concerns the real number of cases could be much higher, with many children so far undiagnosed.

The total number of babies under the age of three months who have died so far this year stands at 13, according to the HPA.

A total of 7,728 cases of whooping cough were confirmed in the first 10 months of 2012, the agency said.

Updated Guidelines for Pertussis Vaccination During Pregnancy
A woman vaccinated with Tdap during pregnancy is likely to be protected at time of delivery, and therefore less likely to transmit pertussis to her infant.

The disease recurs in Britain every three to four years but this figure is seven times higher than the overall number of cases in 2011 -- 1,118.

In a move to combat the outbreak, all women between 28 and 38 weeks pregnant are being offered a vaccination.

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Researchers in the US are questioning the method through which the United States protects her citizens against whooping cough

Dr Gayatri Amirthalingam, consultant epidemiologist for immunization at the HPA, recommended all pregnant women should take up the offer and added: "Parents should also ensure their children are vaccinated against whooping cough on time, even babies of women who've had the vaccine in pregnancy -- this is to continue their baby's protection through childhood."

Source-AFP

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Researchers have offered an explanation for the prevalence of childhood pertussis or whooping cough in US based on an examination of cases of childhood pertussis in California.