In the event of an outbreak of a vaccine-preventable disease, state health officials typically follow a structured protocol to inform residents and provide updates about the emerging health threat. This is a standard practice, as noted by public health and infectious disease experts speaking to NPR and KFF Health News. The primary objective is to prevent further infections among vulnerable populations and to emphasize the importance of vaccinations. However, Louisiana's response during the state's most severe whooping cough outbreak in 35 years raised significant concerns.
Whooping cough, also known as pertussis, is a highly contagious disease that can be prevented through vaccination. It poses especially serious risks to infants, leading to severe symptoms such as vomiting and difficulty breathing. In severe cases, pertussis can result in pneumonia, seizures, and even death. Dr. Madison Flake, a pediatric resident in Baton Rouge, recounted the case of a baby hospitalized during the recent outbreak, who experienced alarming coughing spells and required intensive care.
Despite the alarming situation, the Louisiana Department of Health took two months to issue a social media post encouraging residents to consult their doctors about getting vaccinated. They delayed even longer in issuing a statewide health alert to physicians, a press release, or scheduling a press conference. According to Dr. Georges Benjamin, executive director of the American Public Health Association, such delays are unprecedented, especially concerning childhood diseases that are preventable. He emphasized that rapid public notifications are crucial in curbing the spread of infectious diseases.
In September 2024, Louisiana health officials noted a significant spike in whooping cough cases, coinciding with a national trend. By late January 2025, it was tragically reported that two infants had died from the outbreak. On February 13, state surgeon general Ralph Abraham issued a memo that halted general vaccine promotion and community vaccine events. This memo followed the Senate confirmation of anti-vaccine activist Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as the new U.S. health and human services secretary. In his public communication, Abraham suggested that public health recommendations had overstepped their bounds, labeling them as driven by a “one-size-fits-all” mentality.
Despite the deaths of two infants, the Louisiana Department of Health did not promptly alert the public. Instead, it was only after a request from a local news station that the department confirmed the fatalities. Internal communications revealed that additional infants were hospitalized during this time, with the health department remaining largely silent. It wasn't until March, after inquiries from NPR and KFF Health News, that the department began to communicate about the growing outbreak.
Throughout the summer months, cases of pertussis continued to rise in Louisiana, yet there were minimal public updates from health officials. By September 20, 2025, there were 387 reported cases of whooping cough, a staggering increase compared to the previous 35-year high of 214 cases recorded in 2013. The lack of consistent communication and public awareness campaigns has drawn criticism from health experts, who argue that proactive measures and regular updates are essential for effective public health management.
Experts like Dr. Abraar Karan stress the importance of timely public health alerts. They argue that the health department should have aggressively promoted awareness about the risks associated with whooping cough, especially following the deaths of infants. Prompt communication can serve as a critical opportunity to educate the public on the importance of vaccinations and to encourage those at risk to seek medical advice.
As Louisiana faces an unprecedented outbreak of whooping cough, the response from health officials highlights the critical need for effective communication and swift action. The tragic deaths of infants should serve as a wake-up call to prioritize public health messaging and vaccination efforts. Experts urge that when faced with a health crisis, the emphasis must be on timely warnings, education, and community engagement to prevent further casualties and protect vulnerable populations.
