By Abi Jackson & Rom Preston-Ellis Whooping cough has been on the rise. There were 553 confirmed cases in England in January alone, compared with 858 cases for the whole of 2023, new data published by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) this week revealed. Numbers do tend to go up every few years, and it’s believed the rise in social contact following the pandemic is playing a part right now. The UKHSA is also reminding everyone of the importance of whooping cough vaccines especially for pregnant women and children. So, what makes whooping cough different from regular coughs, and what do you…