Whooping cough cases on the rise in Louisiana

Louisiana is seeing a surge in whooping cough cases, particularly among children, according to state health officials.

The Louisiana Department of Health identified 164 cases of pertussis, known commonly as whooping cough, in the first four months of 2025. The numbers are on track to break record highs. In comparison, the state had a total of 153 cases last year.

The significant spread of whooping cough is causing increased hospitalizations and deaths. Since September, 40 people in Louisiana have been hospitalized with the illness, and 70% of those hospitalizations involve children younger than 1. 

Two of those infants have died, marking the first two whooping cough deaths in Louisiana since 2018, according to LDH.

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Whooping cough is a naturally occurring disease in the U.S.. It is a highly contagious respiratory illness caused by the bacterium Bordetella pertussis. People with pertussis commonly have severe coughing fits, causing them to take deep breaths that make a “whooping” sound.

The disease spreads from person to person through coughing, sneezing and close contact. Infected people can spread the bacteria from the start of symptoms up to three weeks after coughing begins.

Infants are most affected by whooping cough, showing the highest reported rates of infection and the greatest likelihood of severe complications and death. Bacteria that cause whooping cough are often unknowingly spread to infants by close family or caregivers.

Health authorities say the best way to avoid illness from whooping cough is through vaccination. The vaccines are effective, but protection fades over time, the health department said. Infants over 2 months of age can receive the pertussis vaccine, and mothers can receive it during pregnancy to protect their newborns.