Louisiana sees rise in whooping cough cases

BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) — The Louisiana Department of Health is monitoring a rise in pertussis, more commonly known as whooping cough, cases in the state, Surgeon General Ralph Abraham announced Thursday.

As of March 27, the state has reported 110 cases in 2025. Preliminary data shows that more than 12 times as many cases were reported in 2024.

The state health department confirmed two babies have died from whooping cough in the last six months. Before this year, the last child whooping cough death in Louisiana was reported in 2018.

What is whooping cough?

Pertussis is a highly contagious respiratory illness that can cause severe coughing fits, making it particularly dangerous for infants younger than one year old, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The bacteria that causes whooping cough can spread through the air when a person sneezes or coughs. Symptoms, per the CDC, can be similar to common cold symptoms. Early symptoms can include runny or stuffed nose, low-grade fever and mild, occasional cough. Babies, however, may struggle to breathe.

​In 2024, the U.S. saw a significant rise in whooping cough cases. According to a CDC report, over 35,000 total cases were reported. This is more than six times the number of cases reported during the same period in 2023.

How to prevent whooping cough

LDH said the best way to protect newborns from the illness is for pregnant women to get a vaccine during each pregnancy. People who may have close contact with babies are suggested to talk to their doctor about whether they should get the vaccine.

“Anyone who is up-to-date with their pertussis vaccine is well-protected against the virus,” Abraham said.

The CDC recommends:

• Babies receive the DTaP vaccine at two, four, and six months old, with booster shots at 15-18 months and 4-6 years old.​
• Preteens aged 11-12 receive the Tdap booster.​
• Pregnant women get the Tdap vaccine between 27 and 36 weeks of each pregnancy.

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