Whooping cough, or pertussis, is making a strong comeback in Louisiana, with cases sharply increasing across the state. According to the Louisiana Department of Health (LDH), if the disease continues to spread at this rate, the total number of confirmed cases by the end of 2025 could be more than three times the annual average.
Surge in Cases, Especially Among Children
By the end of April 2025, 164 confirmed cases of whooping cough were reported in Louisiana, a sharp rise from 153 cases in 2024. Whooping cough is highly contagious and can spread quickly through coughing and sneezing.
It is especially dangerous for young children, including babies under one year old, who are the most vulnerable to severe complications from the disease.
Though whooping cough is generally not considered dangerous for adults, it can lead to severe coughing fits and be extremely uncomfortable. In some cases, adults may need medical attention, but for infants, the disease can be life-threatening.
Whooping Cough: Symptoms and Identification
Whooping cough is easy to identify, especially due to the “whooping” sound that follows coughing fits. This distinct sound happens when a person breathes in sharply after a coughing spell. Other common symptoms include severe coughing fits, runny nose, and mild fever, which often resemble a cold.
While whooping cough can be unpleasant for adults, it is extremely dangerous for infants, particularly those under two months old, as they cannot receive the vaccine until they are older. This leaves them at the greatest risk for contracting the disease. In the most severe cases, whooping cough can lead to hospitalization or even death.
Hospitalizations and Infant Risk
From September 2024 to April 2025, there were 40 whooping cough hospitalizations in Louisiana. The majority of those hospitalized were babies younger than one year old. This highlights the need for increased protection for infants, as pertussis is most dangerous to them.
How to Protect Yourself and Your Family
The Louisiana Department of Health (LDH) has raised alarm about the rise in cases and has warned that there have already been whooping cough-related deaths in 2025.
If you suspect that you or someone else may have whooping cough, it’s crucial to watch for the characteristic whooping sound after coughing episodes. Early identification is key to preventing the spread of the disease, especially to vulnerable groups like babies.
The LDH recommends that everyone, especially pregnant women, receive the pertussis vaccine (Tdap). Pregnant mothers can pass on immunity to their babies, which provides them with some level of protection against the disease before they are old enough to be vaccinated themselves.