An infant died from whooping cough over the Christmas period, Health New Zealand has confirmed.
Officials declared a national epidemic in November last year, with 1232 cases notified and 101 people hospitalised since the onset.
“Today we are acknowledging the death of an infant from whooping cough over the Christmas period,” National Public Health Service public health medicine specialist Dr Matt Reid said.
“Our hearts go out to the family who have lost their child to this highly infectious disease.”
Reid said it was “more important now than ever” to prioritise getting pregnant women, infants and those who are vulnerable immunised against whooping cough, also known as pertussis.
“Whooping cough is highly contagious and can cause serious harm to pēpi (babies), especially those aged under six-weeks-old, who are too young to be vaccinated.”
Medical advice should be sought by parents or caregivers if their children have a cough that ends with a “whoop” sound or vomiting, if they stop breathing or go blue with coughing, if they get exhausted from coughing, or if they are unable to feed properly or lose weight due to coughing and difficulty breathing, he added.
“The best protection for you and your whānau against whooping cough is to get vaccinated – particularly pregnant people, pēpi, tamariki and older adults who are at higher risk.”
The whooping cough pregnancy vaccine is free, best given from 16 weeks of pregnancy, and should be given with each pregnancy to protect each baby.
Vaccinations for whooping cough are required at ages 6 weeks, 3 months and 5 months, then again at 4 years. A further booster is given at age 11. Adults are eligible for one free booster from age 45 and can also get one free from age 65.
Reid said in 2023 three infants died of whooping cough.
