Mississippi's Whooping Cough Cases Skyrocket to a 16-Year High—Is Your Family Safe?

As Mississippi braces for what officials fear could be a challenging flu season, health experts are sounding the alarm about an uptick in pertussis cases, commonly known as whooping cough. “While we always monitor for pertussis, we added that to the respiratory report for this flu season,” said Theresa Kittle, the deputy state epidemiologist for the Mississippi Department of Health. “We started seeing an increase in pertussis cases, especially this year. We thought it was important to highlight that and bring awareness to it because it is a vaccine-preventable disease.”

Pertussis is particularly dangerous for infants, as it can lead to severe coughing fits that may obstruct their breathing. Tragically, a Mississippi infant died from the disease in September, underscoring the urgency of addressing this health threat. Kittle noted that pertussis can be spread even when symptoms are mild, often starting with a runny or stuffy nose, a low-grade fever, and an occasional cough—symptoms that can easily be mistaken for a common cold.

“In the first few weeks of being infected, it's runny nose, stuffy nose, a low-grade fever, just an occasional cough,” Kittle explained. “You may not even know you have it.” Infected individuals can transmit the bacteria through the air via coughing or sneezing, posing a significant risk to others, especially infants under two months old who are not eligible for the DTaP vaccine.

Beyond pertussis, the state has also reported a sharp increase in cases of Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), which is particularly dangerous for young children. Kittle shared that the majority of RSV cases are occurring in children aged zero to four. “The number of cases that we're seeing were primarily in children,” she stated, urging parents to consider the RSV vaccine for those eligible.

While Mississippi has not recorded any pediatric flu deaths this season, the situation remains concerning. Nationwide, three children have succumbed to the flu, with a staggering 288 pediatric deaths reported in the previous year, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The CDC recommends that children six months and older receive the flu vaccine to mitigate risks.

Kittle emphasized that “it's not too late to get a flu vaccine,” reinforcing the importance of immunization during this critical time. Parents and caregivers are encouraged to practice good respiratory etiquette and hand hygiene to protect themselves and their children. Effective measures include using tissues to cover sneezes and coughs or, if a tissue isn’t available, utilizing the elbow as a barrier.

As we navigate this flu season, Kittle urges anyone feeling unwell—especially those experiencing fever or cough—to stay home. The combination of respiratory infections like pertussis, RSV, and influenza creates a challenging environment for public health, making awareness and preventive measures all the more critical.