Five babies die in England as whooping cough cases soar

UK Health Security Agency data shows there were 2,793 cases reported to the end of March, compared to 858 for the whole of 2023

Five babies have died this year in England after being diagnosed with whooping cough (PA)

Ella Pickover

Five babies in England have died after being diagnosed with whooping cough, health officials have said amid a rapid rise in cases.

More than 2,700 whooping cough cases have been reported across England so far in 2024 – more than three times the number recorded in the whole of last year.