Louisiana’s Surgeon General Dr. Ralph Abraham is urging parents to ensure their children are vaccinated against pertussis after two babies died from the disease in recent months. According to the Department of Health, 110 cases have been identified so far this year.
Two young infants were reported dead due to pertussis within the past six months, marking a rare occurrence since 2018 when there was no infant death due to the disease. Dr. Abraham emphasized that vaccination is key in preventing whooping cough, which can spread through family members and caregivers.
To protect their newborns, pregnant women should receive a Tdap vaccine during each pregnancy. Parents with questions about pertussis vaccines are advised to consult a healthcare provider or parish health unit.
Source: https://www.katc.com/news/covering-louisiana/two-louisiana-babies-have-died-of-pertussis-first-since-2018