Mississippi Baby Dies of Whooping Cough Amid Rising Cases: Preventable Tragedy
Mississippi has reported its first whooping cough death in 13 years, an infant less than two months old who was ineligible for the pertussis vaccine. The state has seen a significant rise in cases this year, with 115 reported between January and late September, compared to 49 in the previous year, raising concerns about declining vaccination rates, especially among adults. Whooping cough, a highly contagious respiratory infection, can be particularly dangerous for infants. Health officials recommend vaccination, booster shots every ten years for those aged seven and older, and the Tdap vaccine during the 27th to 36th week of pregnancy.
John Q. Hosedrinker