The Mississippi State Department of Health issued the following statement.
The Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH) has confirmed an infant in the state recently died from pertussis. The infant was less than 2 months old and was not age-eligible to be vaccinated against pertussis. MSDH does not provide details of the gender or location of these deaths out of respect and privacy for the family.
Pertussis, also known as whooping cough, 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.
To date, 115 pertussis cases have been reported to MSDH since January 1, 2025. This is a sharp increase from the 49 pertussis cases reported during 2024. Including this death, there have been three pediatric pertussis deaths reported in Mississippi since 2008.
Vaccination is one of the safest and most effective ways to protect against pertussis and is recommended for everyone. 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. Pre-teens should receive a single dose of Tdap at 11 to 12 years to boost their immunity.
Pregnant women should receive a single dose of Tdap during each pregnancy in the 27th – 36th week of pregnancy to help protect their newborns from pertussis during their first few months of life. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also recommend a single dose of Tdap for adults who have never received Tdap. Although there is no routine recommendation for pertussis boosters, pertussis immunity wanes over time. It is recommended for adults to receive booster doses every 10 years to maintain protection against tetanus and diphtheria; healthcare providers can administer Tdap for this purpose.
If you are a grandparent or someone who will come into close contact with a young child, it’s more important than ever that you get vaccinated or boosted to ensure you don’t pass the disease on to the child. Even healthy adults can unknowingly spread dangerous respiratory infections like pertussis and RSV to infants, who are more susceptible to health complications, including death.
There is no distinct seasonal pattern to pertussis. Past trends suggest that cases may increase in summer and fall, and the pertussis vaccine usually takes up to two weeks to produce immunity. Pertussis vaccines for those 18 and under who are eligible for the Vaccines for Children (VFC) program are available at County Health Departments. Insurance, Medicaid, and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) are also accepted for children’s pertussis vaccines. A list of all VFC providers can be found at www.msdh.ms.gov/vfc.
Adults who are underinsured or uninsured qualify for an adult pertussis vaccination at MSDH County Health Department clinics. Pertussis vaccinations for insured adults are widely available through private physicians, pharmacies, and retail centers.
To see if you qualify for a free vaccination, call (855) 767-0710 or visit https://msdh.ms.gov/pertussis to schedule an appointment, or for more information on pertussis.
While vaccination is the best protection against severe pertussis outcomes, there are other things you can do to reduce the spread of pertussis whether you are vaccinated or not. These measures include:
· Treatment with appropriate antibiotics if you have been exposed to pertussis.
· Covering your mouth and nose when coughing and sneezing.
· Staying at home when you or your children are sick.
· Washing your hands frequently and keeping them away from your face.
Pertussis is a Class 1A reportable disease and must be reported to MSDH by phone within 24 hours of first knowledge or suspicion.
16 comments:
These are third world diseases being brought in by third worlders supported by the democrat party.
This is not the result of people of European descent rejecting autism shots.
Odd how in the July alert, MSDH released the number of pertussis cases in children who were unvaccinated but chose not to in this release. In that July release, 45 of the 73 cases WERE vaccinated (you have to take the total cases (73) and subtract the unvaccinated cases (28) to arrive at the 45 who were vaccinated. https://msdh.ms.gov/page/23,30218,341.html. Not knowing a vaccinated person can contract pertussis could be dangerous for an at risk person.
"We’re also begging providers to think pertussis when you’re treating children and adults, because it’s very treatable. It’s a bacterial illness, so it’s not a virus. We have antibiotics that are very effective”- Dr. Edney https://www.wlbt.com/2025/09/30/new-warning-whooping-cough-after-first-ms-death-over-12-years/.
Sounds like Dr. Edney believes the infant's pertussis didn't get recognized quickly enough to get the proper treatment before it got so severe.
9:06 you are full of crap! The republicans are the ones pushing anti vax. Look at our administration. Our health secretary has a brain worm & is promoting an unproven link between Tylenol & autism.
These diseases exist in the third world because of lack of vaccines. Your European descent does not come with superior immune functions. Heard of the plague?
Run! Death! Disease! Vaccines!
Y'all are missing 09:06's point...I think he's making the point that if we would not let millions of unvetted people into the country from 3rd world countries, this might not be happening. Has nothing to do with vaccines taken here...they are bringing it with them.
It's horrible that some people choose to politicize the death of a baby. No matter the racial background, it's a baby that died. Has all our sympathy, empathy, and compassion floated away?
9:06 Why does everything have to be about race?
I know who you voted for.
Anti-vax is so 5 yrs ago. Move on….
Some of you are sicker than whooping cough. My God!
Prayers for this innocent baby and poor family. It breaks my heart to think of what its little body must have suffered.
The PR clearly states that the child was not even old enough to be given the first round of the vaccine yet, so you either chose to ignore that fact or didn’t even read it before posting your drivel.
@957. Even Tylenol says pregnant women shouldn’t take Tylenol. Why is that?
Exactly what RFK Jr wants: Baby coffins to own the libs! MAGA!
Jeez Louise! Reading the comments on this thread make me wish there was a vaccine for stupid. Would the lot of you please shut up until you take (and PASS) and actual science class or two! (Youtube and anything learned from TV news don't count)
Post a Comment