In the first five months of 2024, 7,599 children and adults have been infected by the disease, which affects the lungs and respiratory tract and spreads easily, according to figures published on Thursday, the Xinhua news agency reported.
"Young babies are at the highest risk of serious complications and death from whooping cough," the UKHSA said in its alert.
More than half of those infected are people aged 15 years or older and suffer from mild illness, the agency said, adding that high numbers continue to be reported in babies under three months old who are at higher risk of infection.
Doctors have urged pregnant women and babies to get vaccinated against whooping cough. The UKHSA said the latest data on uptake of vaccines offered to pregnant women to protect newborns against whooping cough has fallen below 60 per cent.
According to the UKHSA, timely vaccination during pregnancy and infancy is important to protect vulnerable babies from serious diseases.
"Vaccination is the best defense against whooping cough and it is vital that pregnant women and young babies receive their vaccines at the right time," said Mary Ramsay, Director of Immunization at the UKHSA.
Andrew Preston, professor at the Milner Center for Evolution and the Department of Life Sciences at the University of Bath, said: "We have reached levels we have not seen in the UK for over ten years. This is a genuine outbreak of whooping cough (whooping cough)".
"Childhood vaccination levels against pertussis have declined over the past ten years and thousands of babies have not received the vaccines we know provide protection," he said.
Preston said there has also been a striking reduction in maternal vaccination coverage in some parts of the country, down to between 25 and 30 percent in some urban areas of Britain.
"I think that's contributing to some of the more severe cases in those very young babies," he added.
Preston said he was unsure how long the current outbreak will last. "It's on an upward trajectory, and to be honest, I don't think we know when it's going to stabilize, but I think it's probably going to be more of an impact for most of this year."
"Young babies are at the highest risk of serious complications and death from whooping cough," the UKHSA said in its alert.
More than half of those infected are people aged 15 years or older and suffer from mild illness, the agency said, adding that high numbers continue to be reported in babies under three months old who are at higher risk of infection.
Doctors have urged pregnant women and babies to get vaccinated against whooping cough. The UKHSA said the latest data on uptake of vaccines offered to pregnant women to protect newborns against whooping cough has fallen below 60 per cent.
According to the UKHSA, timely vaccination during pregnancy and infancy is important to protect vulnerable babies from serious diseases.
"Vaccination is the best defense against whooping cough and it is vital that pregnant women and young babies receive their vaccines at the right time," said Mary Ramsay, Director of Immunization at the UKHSA.
Andrew Preston, professor at the Milner Center for Evolution and the Department of Life Sciences at the University of Bath, said: "We have reached levels we have not seen in the UK for over ten years. This is a genuine outbreak of whooping cough (whooping cough)".
"Childhood vaccination levels against pertussis have declined over the past ten years and thousands of babies have not received the vaccines we know provide protection," he said.
Preston said there has also been a striking reduction in maternal vaccination coverage in some parts of the country, down to between 25 and 30 percent in some urban areas of Britain.
"I think that's contributing to some of the more severe cases in those very young babies," he added.
Preston said he was unsure how long the current outbreak will last. "It's on an upward trajectory, and to be honest, I don't think we know when it's going to stabilize, but I think it's probably going to be more of an impact for most of this year."
