Whooping Cough
Whooping Cough
Posted: Thu 23 May 2024
Pregnant women and parents of young children in Northern Ireland are being urged to get vaccinated against whooping cough.
It follows what the Public Health Agency described as a "significant rise" in cases of the infection. There have been 72 confirmed cases of whooping cough (pertussis) so far this year in Northern Ireland compared with just two between 2021 and 2023. Whooping cough is a highly contagious serious bacterial infection.
It can make babies and young children in particular very ill, and can even be fatal in young babies or people with heath conditions. However, it can be prevented by vaccination. Further details on the vaccination can be found in the Whooping Cough Video from PHA