Kentucky Records Third Unvaccinated Infant Whooping Cough Death Amid 566 Cases in 2025

\nKentucky has reported a third infant death from pertussis, commonly known as whooping cough, within the last 12 months. State health officials confirmed that neither the deceased infant nor its mother had been vaccinated against the highly contagious respiratory illness. These fatalities mark the first infant whooping cough deaths in Kentucky since 2018, occurring amidst the state's most significant outbreak since 2012.\n\nAs of November 19, 2025, Kentucky has identified 566 cases of whooping cough, with public health officials anticipating further increases by year-end. Dr. Steven Stack, Secretary of Kentucky’s Cabinet for Health and Family Services, expressed deep sorrow over the deaths and concern regarding the rising case numbers. "We continue to urge Kentuckians to get their whooping cough vaccine and to make sure they are up to date on all other recommended immunizations," Dr. Stack stated, emphasizing that "Many illnesses can be prevented through vaccination, which helps protect not only the individual but also those around them."\n\nPertussis poses the greatest risk to babies under one year old, often leading to severe complications such as pneumonia, convulsions, and life-threatening pauses in breathing. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends the DTaP vaccine for infants starting at two months of age. Additionally, pregnant women are advised to receive the Tdap vaccine during each pregnancy to provide early protection to their newborns.\n\nThe surge in whooping cough cases in Kentucky mirrors a national trend, with over 25,000 cases reported across the U.S. so far in 2025, following more than 33,000 cases in 2024. Health experts attribute the increased activity to declining vaccination rates observed since the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite whooping cough vaccination being a requirement for Kentucky schoolchildren, data from the 2024-2025 school year indicates that only 86% of kindergartners and 85% of seventh graders are up to date on their required immunizations.