JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV) – The Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH) issued a health alert warning the public about an increase in pertussis cases (whooping cough) in the state.
As of July 10, the agency said 80 cases have been reported, which is up from 49 for all of 2024. No deaths have been reported.
According to health experts, pertussis is a highly contagious respiratory disease that causes uncontrollable, violent coughs that make it hard to breathe. It most commonly affects infants and young children and can be fatal, especially in babies under 1 year old.
Most (76%) of this year’s cases have occurred in children less than 18 years of age, including seven cases in infants less than 2 months old. Of the 73 cases that were age-eligible for pertussis vaccination, MSDH officials said 28 were not vaccinated. Among those unvaccinated, 23 were less than 18 years old. Of the 10 hospitalized, seven were children less than 2 years old. While cases have been reported statewide, 40% were identified in Northeast Mississippi.
Vaccination is recommended for everyone, according to the agency. There are two types of combination vaccines that include protection against pertussis, as well as diphtheria and tetanus: DTaP and Tdap. DTaP is recommended for younger children, while Tdap is recommended for older children, pregnant women and adults.
Infants should receive DTaP vaccinations at 2, 4, and 6 months followed by two booster doses at 15 to 18 months and at 4 to 6 years. MSDH officials said pre-teens should receive Tdap at 11 to 12 years to boost their immunity. Pregnant women should receive a single dose of Tdap in the 27th to 36th week of pregnancy to help protect their newborns from pertussis during their first few months of life.
Health experts said pertussis is transmitted person-to-person through respiratory droplets or contact with airborne droplets. Patients are considered infectious from the onset of symptoms until three weeks after the start of high-pitched coughing fits, or until completing five days of antibiotics. Recommended treatment includes antibiotics within three weeks of cough onset in people 1 year of age and older, and within six weeks of cough onset in infants younger than 1 year old and pregnant women.
MSDH offers vaccinations to children and uninsured adults at county health departments. To make an appointment, visit https://msdh.ms.gov/pertussis or call (855) 767-0170.