Pertussis is most commonly referred to as whooping cough. It is an infection of the lungs and breathing tubes. It spreads in the droplets of coughs and sneezes from someone who is infected. It can be serious, especially for babies and children.

If you are travelling to visit family where an infant is due to be born, or has recently been born, you may be requested to have a booster dose of the whooping cough vaccine prior to travel to protect the new born baby.