LOCALS are being encouraged to get their children vaccinated with suspected cases of whooping cough on the rise locally.

Whooping cough is a bacterial infection of the lungs and breathing tubes.

It spreads very easily and can sometimes cause serious problems.

The latest figures sent to the UKSHA by GPs suggests there have been 58 cases in Barnsley so far this year - including four this week.

William Roberts, chief executive of the Royal Society for Public Health, said: “The data shows that there has been a steep rise in whooping cough cases since the start of the year.

“This is deeply concerning and is having tragic consequences.

“The whooping cough vaccine is a simple, safe, and extremely effective way of protecting infants from the infection.

“It is vitally important that this information is widely accessible to the public and comes from sources that people trust.

“Like all vaccines, its effectiveness is dependent on it being easily accessible and on its continued uptake.”