Whooping cough kills seven babies in Western Cape as cases climb to 230

Children and babies are most susceptible to dying of whooping cough in the first few months of their lives because they have not been fully vaccinated against the disease, says Professor Shabir Madhi - dean of the faculty of health sciences and professor of vaccinology at Wits University - after seven babies died of the disease in the Western Cape. 

Madhi said that around 80% of children under five are fully vaccinated (requiring four doses) against diseases like measles and whooping cough. Still, this falls short of the World Health Organisation's target of 90%.

However, he highlighted some weaknesses in South Africa's approach to vaccinating against the disease.