MISSISSIPPI – An infant has died from pertussis, also known as whooping cough, the Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH) said.

State health officials said the infant was less than 2 months old and was not age-eligible to be vaccinated against it.

According to MSDH, this is the third pediatric pertussis death in Mississippi since 2008.

Pertussis is a highly contagious respiratory disease that causes uncontrollable coughing and breathing difficulty, affecting mostly infants and young children, officials said.

MSDH reported 115 pertussis cases since the start of 2025, up from 49 cases in 2024.

Health officials said vaccination is the safest way to protect against the disease.

“DTaP is recommended for younger children, while Tdap is recommended for older children, pregnant women

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