FRANKFORT — Two infants in Kentucky have died from whooping cough—or pertussis—marking the first deaths linked to the disease in the state since 2018, health officials said Friday.

Neither of the infants nor their mothers had received the recommended vaccinations during pregnancy or early infancy, according to the Kentucky Department for Public Health (KDPH). Officials are now urging residents to stay current with their immunizations, especially for vulnerable groups such as pregnant women, infants and young children.

“Anyone can get whooping cough, but infants are at greatest risk for life-threatening illness,” said Dr. Steven Stack, the state’s public health commissioner. “Fortunately, when vaccinations are administered to pregnant women, it provides protection to both the mother and the baby.”

Health officials noted that whooping cough is a very contagious respiratory illness. Symptoms can vary for people based on their age and vaccination status but typically begin with a runny or congested nose and mild coughing. After 1-2 weeks, the cough can progress to rapid, violent coughing fits that can cause the “whooping” sound, vomiting and labored breathing.

Babies younger than 1 year old are at greatest risk for developing severe complications from whooping cough, KDPH reports. Young infants may not initially present with classic symptoms of pertussis and may not even have a cough. Instead they may just struggle to breathe or stop breathing. People with preexisting health conditions that may worsen with whooping cough are at high risk for developing a severe infection.

Health officials announced in July 2024 that whooping cough cases had begun increasing in Kentucky to levels not seen in over a decade. There were 543 cases of whooping cough reported in Kentucky in 2024, the highest number of cases since 2012. Already, 247 cases of whooping cough have been reported in Kentucky this year.

Officials anticipate that whooping cough will continue to increase during the summer and fall, based on historical trends. Many U.S. states and other countries are also experiencing elevated levels of whooping cough, the department said.

Whooping cough spreads easily from person to person through the air, officials said. People can spread the bacteria from the start of symptoms and for at least two weeks after coughing begins. Some people have mild symptoms and do not know they have whooping cough, but they can still spread the bacteria to others. Many babies catch whooping cough from older siblings, parents or caregivers who may not know they have it.

If you have been exposed to anyone with whooping cough or if you have any whooping cough symptoms, health officials advise visiting your nearest clinic.

The pertussis immunization is combined with the tetanus and diphtheria vaccines (DTaP and Tdap). It is a requirement for Kentucky school children. Data from the 2045-2025 Kentucky school immunization survey indicate that only 86% of kindergarteners and 85% of seventh graders are up-to-date on their pertussis immunizations.

Health officials encourage everyone to remain up to date with pertussis immunizations. This includes:

• Pregnant women should be immunized with every 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.
• Teens should be immunized when 11 to 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.

KDPH advises health care providers to consider pertussis in children with respiratory infections and adults with persistent or violent coughs. This is especially the case when treating patients from under-vaccinated, close-knit communities that are known to be particularly vulnerable to pertussis cases and outbreaks.

Early detection, with proper testing, is critical to prevent further spread, health officials said.

For more information, please visit the KDPH pertussis website or contact your local health department.