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Huge spike in cases of whooping cough across Scotland

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Huge spike in cases of whooping cough across Scotland

Whooping cough is spreading at an alarming rate across Scotland with more than 5000 cases recorded this year so far.

The Daily Record reports that three years ago, only four cases were recorded for the entire year. This alarming rise in pertussis – the clinical name for the disease – has been blamed on reduced immunisations across the UK and Europe.




Monday, July 15, a Public Health Scotland spokeswoman said: “As pertussis continues to circulate in Scotland, immunisation of pregnant women and young children is vital.”

Cases of whooping cough have been increasing in Scotland since late last year. There have been 5,026 laboratory-confirmed cases from the start of 2024 up until July 8 – more than the three most recent years combined.

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It is reported that usually there is a spike in cases every three to five years but this rise in cases is seen as exceptionally large.

Last year, there were only 73 cases but 56 of them were in the last quarter as the outbreak began to take hold. By ­comparison, in 2021 there were only four cases in the entire year and three cases in 2022.

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