Rapid Surge in Highly Contagious '100-Day Cough' Cases Alarms UK

Health officials in the UK are warning about a significant increase in whooping cough cases, with a 250% rise reported this year. Between July and November, there were 716 cases of pertussis, a bacterial lung infection, which is three times higher than the same period in 2022. The increase may be due to missed vaccination appointments during the pandemic. Whooping cough is highly contagious and can cause serious illness, especially in babies and children. It is easily preventable with a vaccine, but vaccine rates have fallen to their lowest level in seven years in the UK. The NHS advises seeking medical attention if symptoms develop, and treatment depends on the patient's age and duration of infection.