A warning has been issued to parents in the South West after the number of children developing whooping cough continues to spread across the country.
And despite the number of cases of the potentially fatal infection rising by 25 percent across the south, just under half of pregnant women are still not being vaccinated.
According to NHS England, thousands of pregnant women are passing up the opportunity to get vaccinated against the infection which can lead to pneumonia, brain damage and death.
“The number of infections increased by 25% across the South region in 2015, but despite the risk, on average just 60% of women receive the vaccination, meaning many are putting their baby at risk,” Regional medical director Dr Nigel Acheson said.
“As we are also approaching the winter flu season, I also urge pregnant women to receive their free flu vaccination, which they can have at the same time as whooping cough. This way they will protect themselves and their baby from both potentially fatal illnesses.”
Whooping cough is a highly contagious bacterial infection of the lungs, and can cause repeated bouts of coughing that can last two to three months.
"The cough can last for weeks or months," a Health Protection Agency spokesman said, according to Westbriton.co.uk.
"Anyone showing signs and symptoms – which include severe coughing fits accompanied by the characteristic 'whoop' sound in young children but as a prolonged cough in older children and adults – should visit their GP."
