FRANKFORT, Ky. (FOX 56) — A third infant has died from pertussis in Kentucky.
“We are deeply saddened to learn of another infant death in Kentucky due to pertussis and are concerned by the volume of cases we are seeing throughout the Commonwealth,” Dr. Steven Stack, secretary of the Cabinet for Health and Family Services, said in a Monday news release. “We continue to urge Kentuckians to get their whooping cough vaccine and to make sure they are up to date on all other recommended immunizations. Many illnesses can be prevented through vaccination, which helps protect not only the individual but also those around them.”
Heath department reports 11 whooping cough cases across Fayette County
Pertussis, also known as whooping cough, is a highly contagious respiratory illness spread through coughing and sneezing. It can be severe for infants and those with chronic conditions. The sickness often starts like a cold – with a runny nose and mild cough – but can progress to severe coughing fits that may last for weeks or even months.
As of Nov. 19, there have been 566 cases of whooping cough in Kentucky, with health officials anticipating additional cases in the final weeks of the year. According to officials, this is the largest spike in cases since 2012.
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The Kentucky Department for Public Health (KDPH) stated that whooping cough cases are on the rise, partly due to a decline in vaccination rates nationwide. Officials report that of the three babies who died from pertussis in Kentucky in the last twelve months, none were vaccinated, and neither were their mothers…