Grant County infant dies of whooping cough

A Grant County infant infected with whooping cough has died. County public health officials are investigating the case along with a second case of a child with the bacterial infection, also called pertussis. That child is recovering at home. The infant died at Seattle Childrens’ Hospital. The disease can be prevented with vaccines and booster shots. There are antibiotics to fight infection. Pertussis has re-emerged as a public health concern and there were cases earlier this year in North Idaho that sparked worry about low vaccination rates. About 1 in 20 infants with whooping cough develop pneumonia. Most of these children are infected by an adult.