New whooping cough vaccine ‘could stop virus spreading', research finds

Joe Giddens/PA Wire

By Jane Kirby, PA Media and Erin Dean

A new nasal spray vaccine being developed for whooping cough could offer better protection and stop the virus spreading by targeting bacteria in the nose, scientists say.

The government-funded clinical trial is the first to show that a vaccine can stop pertussis bacteria from living in the nose and throat, which is vital for reducing the spread of the illness.