A tragic incident has occurred in Rugby, Warwickshire, as a five-week-old baby has passed away from whooping cough, as confirmed by Dr. Shade Agboola, the director of public health in Warwickshire. This heartbreaking news was disclosed during a recent meeting of the county’s health and wellbeing board, where concerns were raised about the increasing number of whooping cough cases across the UK.

According to data from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), there have been a total of 35 whooping cough cases in Rugby up to May 4, with three cases reported in the past week and seven in the past fortnight. Additionally, Warwick has seen 31 cases, Stratford-on-Avon 24 cases, Nuneaton and Bedworth six cases, and North Warwickshire three cases during the same period in 2024.

Dr. Agboola expressed the challenges faced by the health protection sector due to the recent media coverage on pertussis and the surge in cases. He highlighted the unfortunate death of the newborn baby in Rugby and emphasized the collaborative efforts with the UK Health Security Agency to implement various measures to address the situation.

The community is urged to remain vigilant and take necessary precautions to prevent the spread of whooping cough. This tragic incident serves as a stark reminder of the importance of vaccination and public health measures in safeguarding vulnerable individuals, especially infants, from preventable diseases.