Greater Manchester is witnessing a worrying surge in whooping cough cases due to falling vaccine uptake among pregnant women and young children.

The NHS, noticing the steep decline, is now urging parents and parents-to-be to vaccinate.

Since 2024 began, Greater Manchester has reported an increased number of whooping cough cases, with 400 probable and 126 possible.

Fewer pregnant women and children under five taking full vaccines is believed to be a significant cause.

Over the last ten years, the percentage of children in the region receiving all their whooping cough vaccines and boosters by five years old dropped from 97.5 per cent in 2012-2013 to approximately 81.8 per cent at the close of 2023.

Only 52.9 per cent of expectant mothers chose to get vaccinated for pertussis, or whooping cough, in the first quarter of this year.

Pertussis, a highly infectious bacterial disease affecting the lungs, begins with symptoms akin to a common cold then develops into coughing bouts that last minutes.

This sound is characteristic of the disease, although not all babies make it, which makes whooping cough hard to identify.

The condition poses high risks, especially to young children, capable of causing severe complications that can be fatal.

With the rise in the number of whooping cough cases across England and many other countries, it is critical that infants get vaccinated promptly.

Furthermore, mothers-to-be are urged to take a whooping cough injection between 16-32 weeks of pregnancy.

The vaccination safeguards newborns from birth as antibodies transfer from the mother to the baby prior to birth.

The disease is covered in the vaccinations given at eight, 12, and 16 weeks, and again during the pre-school booster shot administered when a child is 3 years and 4 months old.

Dr Claire Lake, deputy chief medical officer at NHS Greater Manchester, said: "With cases rising, it is more important than ever that pregnant women and young infants are fully vaccinated against whooping cough.

"Vaccination remains the best defence against whooping cough.

"Therefore, it is vital that women are vaccinated during pregnancy, as this means your newborn baby will be protected against becoming unwell and needing hospital care because of whooping cough.

"It is also important for new parents to ensure their baby receives all their childhood vaccines on time to get the best protection against infectious diseases.

"Whooping cough can affect people of all ages but is particularly serious for very young babies.

"Simply by being fully vaccinated you are protecting your child against becoming seriously ill or worse, as well as helping reduce the spread of the infection to other children.

"If you are pregnant and haven’t been vaccinated yet, or your child is not up-to-date with whooping cough or their other vaccinations, please contact your GP practice as soon as possible to book an appointment."

Anyone in a family with whooping cough symptoms is urged to contact their GP practice or NHS 111.

Individuals diagnosed with the infection should stay at home and not attend work, school or nursery until 48 hours after starting antibiotics to help prevent spreading the disease, especially to infants who are more vulnerable.