KDPH Pertussis Health Alert_11.21.25
Dear Public Health Partners,
The Kentucky Department for Public Health is issuing the attached Kentucky Health Alert regarding an increase in pertussis (whooping cough) in recent weeks. To date, 566 cases of pertussis have been reported in Kentucky in 2025, the highest number of cases in the Commonwealth since 2012. Many of the recent cases have occurred in young infants. Tragically, the third pertussis-related death in a Kentucky infant within the last year has also recently been confirmed. These are Kentucky’s first pertussis deaths since 2018. Vaccination of pregnant women and infants remains the best strategy to reduce severe illness caused by pertussis.
Thank you for your partnership,
Kathleen
Kathleen Winter, PhD, MPH
State Epidemiologist / Director
Division of Epidemiology and Health Planning
Kentucky Department for Public Health