Five babies in England have died from whooping cough – prompting an urgent appeal to pregnant women and new mothers to take up the offer of a jab for themselves or their infant. Doctors are hugely concerned about rising infection rates after more than 1,300 cases were recorded in March alone – up from 900 in February – and triple the 858 cases recorded in 2023. The UK Health Security Agency has also confirmed that since January this year, five babies have died as a result of the illness. Health officials say very young children are the most at risk of severe complications from whopping cough. …