Brits urged to 'stop hugging and kissing' to prevent spread of 100-day cough

12 December 2023 , 15:34

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Members of the public have also been told to wear a face mask (Image: Getty Images)

Brits have been urged to stop "hugging and kissing" in a bid to prevent themselves from further spreading the "100-day cough" ahead of Christmas.

The Whooping Cough, also known as pertussis, is highly infectious and can first appear as cold-like symptoms such as a runny nose or sore throat. However, it can cause severe coughing fits for a period of three months and cause severe implications for high-risk groups including pregnant women.

Professor Richard Tedder, ex-head of the Department of Virology at the University College London (UCL), believes people should become familiar again with social restrictions. He advised Brits to adhere to social distancing and switch hugs for elbow bumps. It comes after the amount of cases increased by a staggering 250% compared to recent years.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) recently flagged 1,141 suspected cases in England and Wales in 2023 up until November, double the 450 seen the year before and 454 for the same period in 2021. Warnings about the measures have been shared by Prof Richard Tedder, who explained that increased socialisation over Christmas could see this number jump even further. He told The Sun: "People should ensure they are vaccinated and consider using masks to help prevent the spread [of whooping cough]. They could also adopt the 'no hugging or kissing' rule and use their elbows to greet people."

Fears remain among experts that the surge in case numbers could be coming from the common axing of pandemic-restricting measures. Its case numbers dropped during the pandemic, but numbers have since seen a resurgence since they were removed and life went back to a more normal rhythm. People are now being encouraged to check their vaccination records to find out if they are immunised. Known as pertussis or the 100-day cough, it is caused by bacterial infection and used to claim the lives of 1,000s of children before vaccines were introduced.

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Pregnant women have in particular been encouraged to get the vaccine, with the current number of people with it dropping to a seven-year low of 61.5% – in London that number is just 41.5%. The vaccine is normally given to babies alongside five other inoculations between the ages of 12 and 16 weeks.

Monica Charsley