Whooping cough epidemic threatens babies

The whooping cough epidemic is escalating, afflicting a record number of people last month.

In November, 611 cases were notified. The previous monthly high was during the last epidemic - 594 cases in November 2000 - figures from the Institute of Environmental Science and Research show.

The Immunisation Advisory Centre at Auckland University is worried this epidemic has intensified so quickly, having begun only six months ago.

Experts estimate that only a quarter of cases are notified.

The highest whooping cough rate this year is in infants under a year old. Four babies have died in the past four years, all under 3 months - too young to have received the three injections with a whooping cough vaccine.

The centre's medical adviser, Dr Marguerite Dalton, said the babies were the most worrying cases.