Honduras Reports 15 Infant Deaths from Whooping Cough in 2026

Honduras has reported 15 deaths from whooping cough (pertussis) so far this year, all of whom were infants. Health authorities confirmed the death of a two-month-old baby and are urging pregnant women to get vaccinated against the disease. Fourteen of the 15 fatalities were infants under one year old, while the remaining victim was a twelve-month-old child, according to Leticia Puerto, representative of the Expanded Program on Immunization (PAI).

The most recent infant to die was from the Colón department in the country's Caribbean region. The baby's mother had not received prenatal care or the vaccine during pregnancy, which is crucial for protecting both the mother and the newborn. Puerto stated that Honduras has confirmed 190 cases of whooping cough this year, a 66.6% increase compared to the 114 cases and seven deaths recorded in all of 2025.

Puerto described whooping cough as a "completely preventable" disease and reiterated the urgent call for pregnant women to get vaccinated between the 26th and 37th week of gestation. The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) defines whooping cough as a highly contagious bacterial respiratory infection caused primarily by the bacteria *Bordetella pertussis* or *Bordetella parapertussis*. It can be fatal in infants and young children if not treated promptly.