A child in Orange County has died from whooping cough, the Florida Department of Health in Orange County confirmed.
The Health Department said an investigation is underway into the recent increases in cases of measles and pertussis or whooping cough, which are preventable with the proper vaccines.
Health officials are advising adults with infant children and those who will come in contact with infants to receive a tetanus/pertussis (Tdap) booster vaccination and to review their vaccination record with their physician to make sure all shots are up to date.
While little details have been provided on the child’s death, health officials stressed that these diseases can be especially serious for infants and young children.
“Immunization is a shared responsibility. Families, healthcare professionals, and public health officials must work together to help protect the entire community,” said Dr. Kevin M. Sherin, Director of the Department of Health in Orange County, in a statement.
The CDC reports more than 41,000 cases of pertussis in the U.S. in 2012, including 18 deaths, which is the highest number of pertussis cases in any one year in the U.S. since 1955. Most of these deaths were in children younger than 1 year of age.
