Infant Dies Of Whooping Cough In Orange County

ORANGE COUNTY, CA — Health officials announced the whooping cough-related death of an infant in Orange County, Thursday. This is the county’s first fatality associated with whooping cough since 2007, OC Health said in their statement.

“We are deeply saddened by this loss of life and send our condolences to the family,” Dr. Nichole Quick, interim county health officer, said in a released statement.

No specific information was immediately available on the infant's age. According to OC Health, Pertussis, the respiratory illness commonly known as whooping cough, is "a very contagious disease that is easily spread from person to person through coughing or sneezing."

Symptoms of pertussis usually develop within 5 to 10 days after exposure, but can sometimes take three weeks.

Early signs and symptoms usually consist of a runny nose, low-grade fever, mild cough, and pauses in breathing patterns. Later-stage symptoms may include paroxysms (sudden attacks) of rapid coughing followed by a high-pitched “whoop,” vomiting during or after coughing fits, and exhaustion.

“The best way to prevent pertussis is to be up-to-date on vaccinations. Children should receive five doses of DTaP (diphtheria, tetanus, acellular pertussis) as part of their routine vaccination schedule starting at two months of age,” said Dr. Quick. “Pregnant women during each pregnancy, regardless of when their previous pregnancy occurred, are strongly recommended to receive Tdap vaccine during their third trimester (weeks 27 to 36). Vaccination during this time stimulates the production of maternal antibodies that are passed on to the infant, offering protection to the baby against pertussis during the first few months of life.”

For more information about immunizations, including pertussis, please visit www.ochealthinfo.com