MS whooping cough cases highest in 16 years. Here are counties being hit hardest
Cases of whooping cough and respiratory syncytial virus are rising across Mississippi — with whooping cough numbers reaching the highest levels in 16 years — while Influenza-like illnesses remain stable, state health experts said.
There have been 140 reported whooping cough cases in 2025, according to a Dec. 22 news release from the Mississippi State Department of Health.
“We are more susceptible to viruses of all kinds during the fall and winter due to increased time spent indoors and social gatherings,” the Mississippi State Department of Health said in a Dec. 22 news release.
Here’s what to know about respiratory illnesses in Mississippi this season.
What is whooping cough? Symptoms?
Whooping cough, also known as pertussis, is a highly contagious infection that can cause breathing issues and complications, according to the MSDH.
While the illness is especially life-threatening in babies, children between 5 and 17 years old have been the most impacted this year, experts said.
Here are the symptoms to look out for, according to the MSDH:
- Runny nose
- Mild cough
- Low fever
In more severe cases, the infection can lead to the following complications, according to the agency:
- Breathing difficulties
- Pneumonia
- Hospitalization
- Death
Where are whooping cough cases on the rise?
Mississippi districts 1, 2, 5 and 9 have had the most cases this year, with 13, 44, 13 and 32 cases, respectively, according to data.
The districts include the following counties:
- District 1: DeSoto, Tate, Marshall, Panola, Yalobusha, Grenada, Carroll, Montgomery
- District 2: Benton, Tippah, Alcorn, Prentiss, Tishomingo, Union, Pontotoc, Lee, Itawamba
- Distrct 5: Attala, Madison, Warren, Hinds, Rankin, Simpson, Copiah, Claiborne
- District 9: Pearl River, Stone, George, Jackson, Harrison, Hancock
What is RSV?
Respiratory syncytial virus is a respiratory illness that spreads in the fall and winter and affects the nose, throat and lungs, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
It is the main cause of infant hospitalization across the United States, according to the MSDH.
What about Influenza-like illnesses?
Overall, Influenza-like illnesses remained steady, MSDH experts said.
The only districts that saw an increase in ILI reports are 2 and 4, which include Benton, Tippah, Alcorn, Prentiss, Tishomingo, Union, Pontotoc, Lee, Itawamba, MOnroe, Calhoun, Chickasaw, Webster, Clay, Choctaw, Oktibbeha, Lowndes, Noxubee and Winston counties, according to the agency.
How to protect yourself and other from respiratory illnesses
Here’s how you can protect yourself and others from getting sick this season, according to the MSDH:
- Stay up to date with vaccinations
- Practice good hygiene: cover coughs and sneezes, wash and sanitize hands often, clean surfaces
- Take steps for cleaner air, including using an air purifier or getting outdoors
