Cases of whooping cough continue to increase in the UK as uptake of the vaccination declines, according to the latest official data published this month.    

The UK Health Security Agency said there were 2,591 cases in May following 555 cases in January, 920 in February, 1,427 in March and 2,106 in April. There were 7,599 cases between January and May.

Most cases – 4,057 – identified between January and May were found in the 15 years and above age group and the UKHSA said “high numbers continue to be reported in babies under three months of age who are at greatest risk from the infection.”

However, the UKHSA also warned uptake of the vaccination offered to pregnant women to protect newborns against whooping cough continues to decline. Just 58.9 per cent of pregnant women were offered the vaccine in March this year compared with 72.6 per cent in March 2017.

“Timely vaccination in pregnancy and in childhood are both important to protect vulnerable young infants from serious disease,” the HSA said. All babies are given three doses of the 6-in-1 jab at eight, 12 and 16 weeks of age to protect against whooping cough and other diseases such as diphtheria and polio. A pre-school booster is offered at three years four months.

Nine infants have died since the current outbreak began in November last year.

“Vaccination is the best defence against whooping cough and it is vital that pregnant women and young infants receive their vaccines at the right time,” said Dr Mary Ramsay, director of immunisation at the UKHSA.

“Pregnant women are offered a whooping cough vaccine in every pregnancy, ideally between 20 and 32 weeks. This passes protection to their baby in the womb so that they are protected from birth in the first months of their life when they are most vulnerable and before they can receive their own vaccines.”