Preventable Whooping Cough Deaths Re-emerge in the USA
Three infant deaths due to whooping cough have now been reported in the State of Kentucky.
This is probably a reflection on what is happening regarding immunisation policy (plus misinformation) in the United States. These are avoidable deaths. The last recorded death due to whooping cough in Kentucky was in 2018. Texas has also recorded two deaths. Falling vaccination rates have been attributed to the increase in disease notifications (and deaths) over the last 12 months. More than 30,000 cases have been recorded in the United States year to date. This figure is higher than the numbers pre pandemic.
Whooping Cough in Australia
Australia has also seen an increase in whooping cough in 2025.
More than 23,000 cases have been notified up to November 9, 2025. Despite increased notifications in Australia in the years since the COVID-19 pandemic, infant deaths are rare. This is due to maternal immunization during pregnancy and our “cocoon policy” of recommending contacts of small infants to be vaccinated. Those most at risk of hospitalisation and death are those under 12 months.
We also have high childhood immunization rates.
According to our National Hospital Morbidity Database the average number of deaths has decreased from 291 annually for the period 1910-1942 to less than 2 between 1983 to 2022. We would not want to go down the path of the United States.
According to CDC (United States) more than 9,000 children died annually from an estimated 200,000 cases prior to the vaccine becoming available in the 1940’s.
What is whooping cough (Pertussis)?
Whooping cough is a very infectious bacterial disease. It is transmitted from person to person by droplet infection. The attack rate is up to 90% in susceptible households. Symptoms of the disease can last a long time, but transmission is most likely in the first week of infection. The rate of infection is less in school contacts. It is often referred to as the “hundred-day cough”.
Pertussis was the most common vaccine preventable disease in Australia in 2010 with over 34,000 notifications. The number of annual cases dropped dramatically after 2013.
International reporting of pertussis cases has proven difficult, but modelling suggests more than 24 million cases annually and over 160,000 deaths.
It remains one of the major causes of vaccine preventable death in infants globally.
Who is at risk of serious disease?
Children under one year are at risk of serious disease. Thirty percent of infected infants will require hospitalisation. It is a very distressing illness for both children and parents.
It can cause complications at all ages. Symptoms can last for over 3 months.
How is whooping cough prevented?
The National Immunisation Program (NIP) provides for 5 funded doses of the vaccine at 2, 4, 6, 18 months and 4 years of age. A booster dose is also given in the school’s program between 11 and 13 years.
Pregnant women are recommended to receive the vaccine in the third trimester of each pregnancy to give the newborn better protection in the first few months of life. This is also funded under the NIP.
A booster dose is also recommended for those over 65 years if they have not had a booster in the previous 10 years. This age group is often vaccinated in the “cocooning program” which hopes to protect all young babies from other close contacts (father, grandparents, friends and other relatives). It is aimed at children under 7 years.
Whooping cough is a notifiable disease in Australia.
Whooping cough and travel
Whooping cough is endemic worldwide. Outbreaks are common. Travellers are at greater risk of exposure to respiratory tract infections than at home. The vaccine is one part of a triple antigen. It also includes a booster for tetanus and diphtheria. Protection from the vaccine isn’t long lasting but disease symptoms might still be modified despite waning immunity.
