Six children, including two babies, have been admitted to hospital with whooping cough in the Bay so far this year.

Last year Toi Te Ora – Public Health Service was notified of 95 people with whooping cough across the Bay of Plenty and Lakes districts. This is a dramatic rise from the 34 people recorded in 2015.

Of the 95 cases last year, 10 were babies aged one year and under and 11 were young children aged one to four-years-old.

Medical Officer of Health Dr Phil Shoemack says two of the six cases for this year are babies.

'Whooping cough can be a very serious disease for babies, often requiring intensive hospital treatment.”

To protect the most vulnerable, Phil highlights the needs for everyone to be aware of the importance of immunisation against whooping cough.

The most effective way to protect babies from birth is to vaccinate the mother during pregnancy so antibodies are passed on to the baby, says Phil.

'These antibodies will help reduce the likelihood of the baby becoming ill with whooping cough before their first immunisation at six weeks.

'With school and kindergarten re-opening for the New Year I strongly recommend checking your family is up to date with all immunisations. Whooping cough is a preventable disease.

Immunisation for whooping cough is part of the routine free childhood immunisation programme and is also free for pregnant women, adds Phil.

'If a scheduled immunisation has been missed, or you are unsure whether a family member is immunised, contact your family doctor or practice nurse. It's never too late to catch up.”

Whooping cough is a highly infectious and distressing illness caused by bacteria that are spread through the community by coughing and sneezing in the same way as colds and influenza.

Symptoms start with a runny nose, fever and dry cough. Coughing gets worse over the next few weeks developing into attacks of coughing and sometimes vomiting.

The ‘whoop' sound occurs as a baby draws a breath after a long coughing attack. Babies under one year are most at risk of serious complications from the illness.

For more information about whopping cough visit the Toi Te Ora - Public Health Service website at: www.ttophs.govt.nz/whooping_cough

Information about getting immunised can be found on the Immunisation Advisory Centre website www.immune.org.nz, the Ministry of Health website www.moh.govt.nz/immunisation, or the Don't Assume You're Immune website www.getimmunised.org.nz