By Marie Rosenthal, MS
Since September 2024, pertussis cases have risen to more than 360 cases, according to the Louisiana Department of Health (LDH)—more than the state has seen annually for at least 35 years.
The significant spread of pertussis is leading to a corresponding increase in hospitalizations and deaths. Two deaths in young hospitalized infants have been reported—the first pertussis deaths in the state since 2018. Since September 2024, 40 of the cases in Louisiana have been hospitalized with pertussis (most being young infants), and 75% of hospitalized people were either unvaccinated or had an incomplete vaccination.
Pertussis, which is caused by the bacterium Bordetella pertussis, spreads from person to person through coughing, sneezing and close contact. Infected people can spread the bacteria from the start of symptoms and for up to three weeks after coughing begins.
Infants younger than 12 months of age are most affected, showing the highest reported rates of infection and the greatest likelihood of severe complications and death.
LDH has asked that parents and healthcare professionals review children’s immunization histories to make sure they are up to date on their pertussis-containing vaccines. In addition, LDH recommended handwashing and covering the mouth and nose while sneezing or coughing, in addition to other infection control actions, such as not sharing food or utensils.
Children with suspected pertussis should be isolated until they see a healthcare provider.
Infants are not eligible to receive a pertussis-containing vaccine until they are 2 months old, which can leave young babies at particularly high risk for severe disease. The best way to protect newborns from whooping cough is to give a Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, acellular pertussis) vaccine during each pregnancy. Other individuals who may have close contact with young babies should talk to their healthcare professionals about their vaccine history and whether they should receive a pertussis vaccine.
- Two vaccines help protect against pertussis: DTaP (diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis) for children younger than 7 years of age, and Tdap for older children, teens and adults. Both also protect against tetanus and diphtheria. (The difference is the amounts of the diphtheria and tetanus portions of the vaccine.)
- Babies and children younger than 7 years should receive DTaP vaccine a total of five times, at 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, 15 to 18 months and 4 to 6 years.
- Preteens should receive the Tdap booster between 11 and 12 years.
- Adults should receive another dose of Tdap every 10 years.
- Tdap should also be given during the third trimester of any pregnancy. Evidence shows that infants are less likely to develop pertussis early in life if their mothers received the Tdap vaccine during pregnancy.
LDH is also advising clinicians to follow the recommendations shared via a health advisory earlier this week, available here.
In related news, Sen. Bill Cassidy, MD (R-La.), the chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, committed to working with Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., asking him to support the pertussis vaccine.
“In my state of Louisiana, we are experiencing the worst pertussis outbreak in 35 years. The outbreak has already killed two babies,” Dr. Cassidy wrote.
“I want to work together to stop pertussis. Your strong public support for this vaccine will save lives,” Dr. Cassidy continued. “Families responded to your decisive leadership when you clearly promoted the MMR [measles, mumps, rubella] vaccine to stop the outbreak in West Texas. They would respond again to your call that the DTaP vaccine is the best way to protect our babies,” he said in a letter.
“We cannot lose more lives or allow these outbreaks to continue growing across the United States,” Dr. Cassidy wrote.
He continued, “President Trump recently declared unequivocally ‘you have vaccines that work. They’re just pure and simple work. They’re not controversial at all. And I think those vaccines should be used otherwise some people are going to catch it and they endanger other people. And when you don’t have controversy at all, I think people should take it.’”
