Baptist Health Paducah urges community to stay vigilant as whooping cough cases rise across Kentucky
PADUCAH, KY (Dec. 2, 2025) — Baptist Health Paducah is urging families to take extra precautions as Kentucky experiences a sharp and concerning rise in pertussis, commonly known as whooping cough. State health officials have reported 566 cases so far in 2025, the highest number seen in more than a decade, and anticipate continued increases through the winter months.
Kentucky has experienced its first pertussis-related infant deaths since 2018, with three infants losing their lives over the past year. According to the Kentucky Department for Public Health’s recent Health Alert, none of the infants, nor their mothers, were vaccinated against pertussis during pregnancy or early infancy. Infants under two months are too young to be vaccinated themselves, making maternal vaccination during pregnancy the most effective protection for newborns.
“Whooping cough is highly contagious. Children that are too young to be vaccinated and those with weakened immune systems are at highest risk of severe illness and death,” said pediatrician Dr. Caitlyn Cecil, Baptist Health Medical Group Pediatrics.
“The best protection for babies is ensuring that mom receives the Tdap vaccine during pregnancy and family members and caregivers are fully up to date on their pertussis vaccination. Young infants should receive a pertussis vaccine with their routine vaccinations starting at two months of age,” added Dr. Cecil.
While many recent cases have occurred in infants, a significant number has also been reported in school-aged children. Whooping cough immunity naturally decreases over time, meaning fully vaccinated children and adults can still become infected. However, vaccination remains the best defense, as vaccinated individuals typically experience milder illness and rarely require hospitalization.
Because pertussis can appear similar to common winter viruses such as RSV, flu, and COVID-19, Dr. Cecil encourages families to seek medical evaluation if they notice symptoms such as severe or prolonged coughing fits, “whooping” sound during breathing after coughing, vomiting after coughing, or Apnea, pauses in breathing, or difficulty breathing (especially in infants). Early diagnosis can help reduce spread and allow for timely treatment.
Dr. Cecil recommends the following to help prevent the spread of whooping cough:- Stay current on all recommended vaccines.
- Keep infants away from anyone with cold symptoms or a persistent cough.
- Cover coughs and sneezes and wash hands frequently.