State health officials announced Monday a third infant has died from pertussis in Kentucky within the past 12 months.
The Kentucky Department for Public Health said the death comes amid the largest spike in whooping cough cases reported in the commonwealth since 2012. Pertussis is a highly contagious respiratory infection that has been increasing in prevalence across the United States in part due to declining vaccination rates.
As of November 19, there have been 566 cases of whooping cough identified in Kentucky, with health officials anticipating additional cases in the final weeks of the year.
The three infant deaths are Kentucky’s first whooping cough deaths reported since 2018. Health officials confirmed none of the infants who died had been vaccinated, nor had their mothers.
Babies younger than 1 year old are at the greatest risk for whooping cough.
Data from the 2024-2025 Kentucky school immunization survey indicate only 86% of kindergarteners and 85% of seventh graders are up to date on their required whooping cough vaccines.
The best way to prevent whooping cough is by receiving the Tdap or DTaP vaccine, which protects against three bacterial infections — diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis.
Health officials recommend:
All pregnant women should be immunized with each pregnancy to protect their babies
Infants should be immunized when they are 2 months, 4 months, 6 months and 12-to-15 months old
Children should be immunized before starting kindergarten
Pre-teens should be immunized between the ages of 11 and 12 years old
Teens and adults should be immunized at least every 10 years, or sooner if an injury occurs or to protect a newborn
Symptoms of whooping cough typically begin with a runny or congested nose and mild coughing. After one to two weeks, the cough can progress to rapid, violent coughing fits that may cause the characteristic “whooping” sound, vomiting or labored breathing.
Other ways to prevent the spread include washing hands often, covering coughs and sneezes, and staying home when sick.
Source: WAVE
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