JACKSON, Miss. (WLBT) - An infant in Mississippi has died from pertussis, also known as the whooping cough.

According to the Mississippi State Department of Health, the infant was less than 2 months old and was not age-eligible to be vaccinated against the disease.

Whooping cough is highly contagious and 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, MSDH states.

“To date, 115 pertussis cases have been reported to MSDH since January 1, 2025,” the Mississippi State Department of Health said in a statement. “This is a sharp increase from the 49 pertussis cases reported during 2024. Including this death, there have been three pediatric pertussis deaths reported

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