In late August, the Yadkin County Health Department was notified
of pertussis in a 5-month-old in Yadkin County. The North
Carolina Department of Health and Human Services reported August
20 the first infant death attributable to pertussis, commonly
known as whooping cough. The child, who was only two months old,
was from Forsyth County. Whooping cough continues to spread
throughout the state and country, and state health officials
strongly urge parents to take these immediate steps to protect
their children and other loved ones: - Make sure your child is
current on his or her vaccinations. The DTaP vaccination series
is recommended for children starting at 2 months of age, and
continuing at 4 months, 6 months, 15-18 months and 4-6 years of
age. - Insist that the adults in your children’s lives are
vaccinated also. Whooping cough spreads easily from person to
person, and young babies especially are not fully protected
until they receive the full series of shots. - Ask about your
children’s caregivers. Babysit