A baby has died from whooping cough in the UK, the first recorded death from the disease this year, as vaccination rates among pregnant women and children reach their lowest levels in over a decade.
The infant, who was under one year old, became seriously unwell and died between March and June 2025, according to the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA). The mother had not received the recommended vaccine during pregnancy, which can pass vital protection to newborns in the womb.
