A 10-week-old infant in Jerusalem has died of whooping cough, the Health Ministry announced on Monday, days after warning of an alarming increase in cases in the capital and specifically among ultra-Orthodox communities where vaccination rates are lower than in other populations.
The newborn began showing symptoms of Pertussis, known as whooping cough, at five weeks old and was hospitalized two weeks later. The baby had been unvaccinated against the disease and died last month, the ministry said.
Pertussis is a highly contagious but preventable disease caused by bacteria that spreads easily through coughing and sneezing. It is especially dangerous for babies, who can experience severe coughing and wheezing, among other symptoms like vomiting, fever, and a runny nose. In the worst cases, apnea (pauses in breathing), cyanosis (turning blue), and death can occur.
An epidemiological study of the fatal case uncovered that the infant’s mother had not been vaccinated either.
While it is customary to administer the pertinent vaccine six weeks post-birth, the Health Ministry also strongly advises that expectant mothers be inoculated during their third trimester of pregnancy.
According to a report from the Haaretz newspaper this week, there has been a staggering 12-fold increase in whooping cough cases in 2023 when compared to the previous year.
The vast majority of these cases have been identified in infants below the age of one, residing in Jerusalem.