United Kingdom: Pertussis in England, STIs in Wales
England
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) reports the total number of laboratory confirmed cases of pertussis, or whooping cough from January to June 2024 have risen to 10,493, prompting officials to urge pregnant women to get vaccinated to protect their babies from birth onwards.
There has been one additional infant death in June, bringing the total to 10 since the current outbreak began in November last year (one in December 2023 and 9 between January to end June 2024).
From January to June 2024, while most cases (55%, 5,769) were in those aged 15 years or older who usually get a mild illness, high numbers (328) continue to be reported in babies under 3 months of age who are at greatest risk from the infection.
Evidence from England shows that vaccination at the right time in pregnancy is highly effective, giving 92% protection against infant death.
The latest uptake data for the vaccination offered to pregnant women to protect newborn infants against whooping cough continues to decline - with coverage in March 2024 at 58.9% compared to the peak coverage (72.6%) in March 2017.
Timely vaccination in pregnancy and in childhood are both important to protect vulnerable young infants from serious disease. It is particularly important for pregnant women to get vaccinated against whooping cough, as this allows protection to pass to their unborn baby in the womb so that babies are protected from birth in their first months of life.
Dr Mary Ramsay, Director of Immunization at UK Health Security Agency, said:
Vaccination is the best defense against whooping cough and it is vital that pregnant women and young infants receive their vaccines at the right time. 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.
With cases continuing to rise and, sadly, 10 infant deaths since the outbreak began last November, ensuring women are vaccinated in pregnancy has never been more important. Our thoughts and condolences are with those families who have so tragically lost their baby.
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Whooping cough, clinically known as pertussis, is a bacterial infection which affects the lungs. The first signs of infection are similar to a cold, such as a runny nose and sore throat, but after about a week, the infection can develop into coughing bouts that last for a few minutes and are typically worse at night. 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 recognize.
Wales
Data from the latest Sexual Health Trends in Wales report reveals a rise in gonorrhoea and syphilis cases across Wales. The number of gonorrhoea diagnoses jumped by 27 percent in 2023 compared to the previous year, reaching a total of 5,292 cases. Similarly, syphilis diagnoses saw a 20 percent increase, with 507 cases reported, marking a 17 percent rise from the previous peak in 2019.
This may in part be due to enhanced testing efforts, which have improved case detection. However, it is also likely to represent increased transmission of these diseases in Wales.
Professor Daniel Thomas, Consultant Epidemiologist at Public Health Wales said:
“Our latest report reveals an increase in gonorrhea and syphilis cases across Wales. While these rising numbers may reflect in part an increase in the number of tests being carried out in Wales, they also raise concerns of increasing transmission of these sexually transmitted infections, particularly among young people. Public Health Wales remains committed to providing accessible testing for STIs through it’s free, confidential test-and-post service, and encourages everyone to take proactive steps to manage their sexual health.”