Louisiana whooping cough cases for 2025 higher than last year’s total, LDH reports

BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) — Louisiana’s health department reports an increase in whooping cough cases that could lead to a record high this year.

Compared to 153 total state cases in 2024, the Louisiana Department of Health (LDH) has identified 164 cases in the first four months of 2025. Nationwide, over 8,400 cases have been reported this year by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

LDH reported that 40 people have been hospitalized with whooping cough, or pertussis, since September 2024, with 70% of those being babies younger than 1 year old. Two babies in Louisiana have reportedly died with the rise in cases.

Experts said whooping cough peaks every two to five years, occurring around this time of the year and in the fall. State Epidemiologist Theresa Sokol described the surge in cases as a “return” to disease activity patterns before the COVID-19 pandemic.

“What I can tell you is that we had a very low number of cases during the pandemic because people were practicing mitigation measures that decrease the spread of respiratory diseases,” Sokol told Louisiana First News.

Expert describes symptoms, encourages vaccination

Sokol said symptoms can appear like a common cold before coughing fits possibly develop one to two weeks later. She said coughing “can be so strong that people make a high-pitched whoop.”

Babies are at a greater risk of whooping cough complications and death. Health officials said the bacteria that cause the disease are often unknowingly spread to babies by family members or caregivers. Sokol said babies’ symptoms can differ from adults, showing as apnea and causing them to turn blue and struggle to breathe.

Vaccines for pregnant women and people, including children and teens, in close contact with babies are recommended. Sokol said the department recommends people review their immunization histories and talk to health care providers about the pertussis vaccine.

“We feel like this is especially important now because of the increased pertussis activity that we’ve been seeing recently in Louisiana,” Sokol said.

Click here for more information from LDH about pertussis.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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