Mississippi Reports First Whooping Cough Death in Over a Decade

A tragic incident in Mississippi has resulted in the death of an infant from whooping cough, as confirmed by the Mississippi State Department of Health on Monday. This marks the first such fatality in the state in thirteen years. The baby, who was under two months old, was too young to receive the pertussis vaccine.

From January 1, 2025, to September 29, the state has recorded 115 cases of whooping cough. Comparatively, there were only 49 cases throughout the entire year of 2024, according to the health department. Dr. Dan Edney, Mississippi State Health Officer, also indicated that the last deaths linked to this disease occurred in 2008 and 2012.

Dr. Edney expressed concern over declining vaccination rates, stating, “We do believe that declining vaccination rates are impacting this.” He further added that while Mississippi has a high vaccination rate for infants and school-aged children, it falls short for adults. “Our worry is that adult Mississippians may not be maintaining their immunity to pertussis, putting our babies at risk,” he noted.

Whooping cough is described as a highly contagious respiratory illness. It often starts with symptoms like a runny nose and congestion, evolving into severe coughing fits that can cause difficulty breathing. “That cough can hang around for a very long time, and the longer it remains untreated, the more dangerous it becomes,” Edney warned.

Pertussis can last from two to eight weeks if not treated, and although it’s typically mild in adults, many might mistake it for a common cold. If diagnosed, individuals should take precautions to quarantine for six to 21 days.

Edney highlighted that antibiotics can effectively treat the infection and slow its spread. He noted the particular danger it poses to infants, stating that infants often don’t cough but can simply stop breathing.

To prevent pertussis, Edney recommended getting vaccinated and keeping up with booster shots every ten years through the Tdap vaccine, which also protects against tetanus and diphtheria. Since infants can’t receive vaccines until two months old, he stressed the importance of vaccinating older children and adults to safeguard these vulnerable babies.

Interestingly, he pointed out the differences in vaccine effectiveness: some, like the MMR (measles, mumps, rubella), provide lifelong immunity, while others, like the tetanus vaccine, require regular boosters to maintain protection. Pregnant women are advised to get the pertussis vaccine during weeks 27 to 36 of their pregnancy to help protect their newborns.

Proposing practical measures, Edney encouraged families to limit visits to newborns during their first six to eight weeks, especially from those who are sick. After the two-month mark, infants can receive the DTaP shot, which protects against whooping cough.

“Pertussis is one of those vaccines that’s very beneficial but not entirely protective, so we need to keep our immunity as high as possible to safeguard the little ones,” he mentioned.