On Jun. 6, 2025, officials with the Kentucky Department for Public Health (KDPH) announced that two infants have died from pertussis (whooping cough) in the commonwealth in the last six months. Neither the infants nor their mothers had received the recommended immunizations against pertussis during pregnancy or infancy.

These are the first pertussis-related deaths in Kentucky since 2018. Health officials urge all Kentuckians to remain up to date on recommended pertussis immunizations and emphasize the importance of maternal immunization during pregnancy and for all infants beginning promptly at 2 months of age.

Whooping cough is a very contagious respiratory illness. Symptoms of whooping cough 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. Young infants may not initially present with classic symptoms of pertussis and may not even have a cough—instead they may just struggle to breath or stop breathing. People with preexisting health conditions that may be worsened by 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 in the commonwealth since 2012. Already,
247 cases of whooping cough have been reported in Kentucky to date in 2025.