England is experiencing the biggest outbreak of ‘100 day’ whooping cough in at least 10 YEARS – so how can you tell this apart from a cold?

Cases of the ‘100 day cough’ have risen to their highest level in a decade amid a nationwide surge, MailOnline can reveal.

UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) chiefs have received reports of 636 suspected cases of whooping cough in England and Wales so far in 2024.

It marks the biggest toll in the first three weeks of a year since comparable records began, with figures two and a half times higher than before the pandemic.

The increase in the disease, which produces a cough that is notoriously difficult to shake, has been accompanied by a drop in vaccination rates. Uptake of the six-in-one jab, given to babies in the first few months of life, is at an all-time low.

Experts today warned that the surge is a ‘wake-up call’ and urged the UKHSA to find new ways to encourage parents to get their children vaccinated.

Health officials warned that the infection may initially be difficult to distinguish from a cold, with the first signs typically being a runny nose and sore throat.

But about a week later, patients may experience coughing fits that last minutes, have difficulty breathing after coughing, and make a “whoop” sound between coughs.

Other signs of whooping cough, as it is medically known, include bringing up thick mucus that can lead to vomiting and flushing of the face.

Doctors must report any suspected case of certain infectious diseases, such as whooping cough, measles and smallpox.

Figures show that as of January 21, 636 suspected cases had been reported to the UKHSA. By comparison, in the first three weeks of 2023 the number was only 29.

It was even lower in 2022 (26) and 2021 (6), as Covid restrictions thwarted the spread of other bugs.

Before the pandemic, between 2,500 and 4,500 suspected cases were recorded annually. During the corona crisis this dropped to approximately 500.

But in 2023, the number of cases reached 1,728 due to the recovery from the pandemic. Similar trends were observed for insects such as influenza and RSV.

However, the numbers are still nowhere near the annual peak of 170,000 timber logged in the 1940s. Routine vaccination against whooping cough in the 1950s dramatically reduced levels.

It is caused by the whooping cough bacteria and is spread by coughing and sneezing. Patients are contagious from about six days after cold symptoms develop until three weeks after their cough starts.

Doctors prescribe antibiotics as treatment if whooping cough is discovered within three weeks. However, if someone is infected for longer, antibiotics will not speed up recovery.

The infection can be fatal, with up to 3 percent of newborns dying from it, according to Professor Paul Hunter, an infectious disease expert from the University of East Anglia.

In addition, most babies under six months of age are hospitalized with whooping cough with complications, such as dehydration, breathing difficulties and pneumonia.

It is less serious in older children and adults, but can still cause painful ribs, a hernia, ear infections and urinary incontinence in these groups.

The 6-in-1 vaccine, given to babies aged eight, 12 and 16 weeks, and the 4-in-1 pre-school booster, given to children aged three years and four months, are crucial for protection against whooping cough.

Pregnant women are also encouraged to get the vaccine to protect their babies from the infection in the first few weeks of life.

However, uptake of the 6-in-1 vaccine fell to a record low of 92.6 percent in 2023, while the 4-in-1 shot reached 83.3 percent, also the lowest level on record, according to data from the NHS England dating back to 2010. .

Meanwhile, only 61.5 percent of expectant mothers received the whooping cough shot in 2022 – the smallest number in seven years. In London this figure is even lower (41.4 percent).

The rise in whooping cough comes as Britain is already dealing with a measles outbreak, which was declared a national incident by the UKHSA after cases in the west Midlands skyrocketed to their highest levels since the 1990s.

Dr. David Elliman, a pediatrician at Great Ormond Street Hospital, told MailOnline: ‘We have already seen a rise in the number of measles cases and now it appears that cases of whooping cough (whooping cough) are on the rise.

‘While the decline in uptake of the MMR vaccine has been greater, there has also been a decline in uptake of the other routine vaccinations.

‘Although not as contagious as measles, whooping cough is still highly contagious, much more so than, for example, Covid.

“It is therefore no surprise that the number of cases appears to be increasing.”

He noted that whooping cough is “particularly dangerous” for young babies, who are best protected by vaccinating expectant mothers.

Dr. Elliman added: “The emergence of these diseases is a wake-up call for the entire vaccination program.

‘Research shows that the main barrier to vaccination is the ability to access the vaccines and knowledge of the diseases, rather than anti-vaccine sentiment.

‘UKHSA has launched a vaccination strategy. It is important that we do not do more of the same, but look at innovative ways of working.’

Dr. Gayatri Amirthalingam, consultant epidemiologist at the UKHSA, told MailOnline: ‘Before the introduction of routine immunization in the 1950s, we experienced major epidemics of whooping cough every two to three years, affecting tens of thousands of people and causing many deaths.

‘Our vaccine program has been hugely successful with a dramatic reduction in the number of cases, but the infection has not completely disappeared because neither infection nor vaccination can provide lifelong protection.

‘Social distancing and lockdown measures imposed across Britain during the Covid pandemic had a significant impact on the spread of other infections, including whooping cough.

‘As expected, we are now seeing an increase in cases and as young babies are most at risk of serious complications from whooping cough, it is vital that pregnant women are vaccinated to protect their babies from birth and that babies receive vaccines at eight, twelve and sixteen years of age. weeks of age, or as soon as possible thereafter if their vaccinations are delayed.”