• Mississippi has seen a rise in whooping cough cases in 2025, exceeding the total from the previous year.
• District 2 leads the state in reported cases, while other districts also report infections.
• Infants under one year old are most vulnerable to severe complications from whooping cough.
• Vaccination is considered the most effective preventive measure against the disease.

Whooping cough cases in Mississippi are on the rise, already surpassing the total number reported for all of last year, according to the Mississippi State Department of Health.

Whooping cough, or pertussis, is a highly contagious respiratory illness that can cause serious breathing problems and even life-threatening complications. This bacterial infection can affect both children and adults, though it is more critical in infants and toddlers.

The state Department of Health said 60 whooping cough cases have been reported between Jan. 1 and Tuesday, May 20, 2025.

District 2 — which includes Lee, Tishomingo and Benton counties — reported the highest number of whooping cough cases, with 25 as of Tuesday.

District 5, which includes Hinds, Rankin and Madison counties, has reported eight cases. District 8, which includes Forrest, Lamar and Jones counties, has reported fewer than five cases.

Theresa Kittle, epidemiology program director at the Mississippi State Department of Health, said in 2024, “there were 49 pertussis cases reported to MSDH. This includes both confirmed and probable cases.”

Have whooping cough cases increased in Mississippi since 2017?

According to the state Department of Health, an average of 44 whooping cough cases between 2017 and 2019 were reported to MSDH each year.

Kittle stated from 2020 to 2023, the average number of reported cases dropped to five per year, reflecting a nationwide trend.

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Kittle said, however, reported cases of pertussis increased across the United States and Mississippi in 2024, “indicating a return to more typical trends.”

In 2025, reported pertussis cases have varied weekly, ranging from zero to seven, with an average of three cases reported per week.

Kittle said there are peaks in reported cases of whooping cough every few years. Kittle said whooping cough is a common disease in the state and country.

“Pertussis cases can occur year-round,” Kittle said.

According to the American Lung Association, the illness is typically at its peak in the summer and fall months.

What are symptoms of whooping cough?

Whooping cough presents as the common cold initially, the according to the CDC, so watching for signs is important. If it’s whooping cough, symptoms tend to play out in three stages.

Stage 1: For a week or two, whooping cough presents as a cold. Those symptoms include:

• A runny or stuffy nose
• A low-grade fever under 100.4°F
• A mild cough could be present
• A more serious symptom that could appear early in babies is apnea (life-threatening pauses in breathing) that could result in cyanosis (when the skin turns blue or purple)

Stage 2: One to two weeks after becoming sick, coughing fits may develop. Some coughs will turn into paroxysms, which the CDC defines as “rapid, violent, and uncontrolled coughing fits.” This can last up to 10 weeks but is less likely to be severe or long-lasting the older you get, unless an individual is unvaccinated, the CDC states.

What to identify during coughing fits:

• A high-pitched “whoop” sound at the end of each coughing fit
• Vomiting due to excessive coughing
• Fatigue after coughing spells
• Breathing struggles

Stage 3: Recovery can last for up to three weeks. An individual’s cough will begin to diminish but may flare up again if another infection or illness is contracted.

Keep in mind that “coughing fits can return many months after the whooping cough illness started,” the CDC states.

Deaths due to whooping cough are “rare,” according to the Mayor Clinic.

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Who is most at-risk of contracting whooping cough?

Age and underlying medical conditions can increase someone’s risk for getting a severe case of whooping cough.

Kittle said infants under 1-year-old are at the “greatest risk” for whooping cough and severe complications due to their immune systems still developing. Kittle said this age group “continues to have the highest reported rate of pertussis.”

Kittle noted that individuals with pre-existing conditions, such as immunocompromising conditions or moderate to severe asthma, are also at high risk for severe whooping cough infections.

“It’s especially important to prevent these people from getting sick,” Kittle said.

How to prevent whooping cough?

Good hygiene practices are recommended to help prevent the spread of bacteria and viruses that cause many respiratory illnesses.

Preventive antibiotics may be administered to individuals exposed to whooping cough to reduce the risk of illness.

The best way to prevent whooping cough is through “vaccination,” Kittle said, adding that the CDC recommends whooping cough vaccination for everyone.

Pam Dankins is the breaking news reporter for The Clarion Ledger. Have a tip? Email her at pdankins@gannett.com.