New figures from the UK Health Security Agency show 1,319 cases of the illness were detected in March, up from 918 in February and 556 in January. This compares to just 858 cases of whooping cough for the whole of 2023.Dr Michael Head, Senior Research Fellow in Global Health told ITV News these figures are significant - but not unprecedented."We do see large outbreaks of whooping cough on a cycle every few years but the one we're seeing at the moment is big.
Those with the illness may make a 'whoop' sound, caused by gasping for breath between coughs - but this does not happen everyone with whooping cough. "You can only really notice it's whooping cough later on in the presentation when that distinctive 'hoop' sound kicks in." He said: "The reasons are not totally clear but will be related to drops in vaccine uptake and probably waning of immunity in older children and younger adults.
Dr Head explained whooping cough is about as contagious as measles, which is one of the most infectious diseases around.