Patients told to get masks in whooping cough scare

GPs surgeries are once again asking patients to wear masks to appointments amid the nationwide outbreak of whooping cough.

At least five babies have died this year in England and Wales from the infection. There have been almost 3,000 confirmed cases so far and concerned officials are urging eligible patients to get vaccinated against it.

some practices are asking patients to wear a face covering during appointments or while travelling to the surgery. At least one is advising patients to wait outside on arrival.

The moves follow updated NHs England infection control guidance, issued earlier this year in the wake of a measles outbreak and increasing whooping cough cases.

It advised reinstating maskwearing

‘As contagious as measles’

measures where appropriate. However, the decision on mask-wearing is made by local healthcare providers depending on infection rates in their area.

Whooping cough is as contagious as measles and more so than Covid-19, with young children who are not protected at the greatest risk from serious complications.

The UK Health security Agency has confirmed that five babies – all aged under three months – died after contracting the infection in the first three months of the year.

It is the highest number of deaths caused by whooping cough in a decade.

Experts say the surge in cases may be due to decreasing uptake of the vaccine and circulation of the disease being suppressed during Covid lockdowns.