Brief by Shorts91 Newsdesk / 07:34am on 10 Dec 2023,Sunday Health & Wellness
Health officials in the UK issued a warning about a highly infectious bacterial disease called "100-day cough" that is rapidly spreading, with cases up 250% between July and November. The infection, also known as pertussis or whooping cough, begins with cold-like symptoms but progresses to prolonged, intense coughing bouts lasting up to three months. Dr. Gayatri Amirthalingam of the UK Health Security Agency said infections decreased during the pandemic due to social distancing but are surging again, with 716 reported cases recently compared to 236 last year. The painful cough can make breathing difficult and lead to vomiting, sore ribs, or fractures. The NHS says the preventable disease can be protected against with a readily available vaccine, especially for vulnerable children and babies.
