Child Dies from Pertussis and Influenza in South Dakota, Health Officials Confirm

A child in South Dakota has died from both whooping cough and the flu, according to the South Dakota Department of Health.

On Friday, the state recorded its first death from pertussis since 2023, according to a news release from the department.

“I, along with everyone at the Department of Health, extend our heartfelt condolences to the grieving family during this unimaginable loss,” Department of Health Secretary Melissa Magstadt said in the release.

Whooping cough, also called pertussis, had a big rise in cases in South Dakota in 2024, according to the health department’s Infectious Disease Dashboard, which tracks many diseases from anthrax to West Nile virus.

The department hasn’t shared any data for 2025 yet, but in 2024, South Dakota had 361 recorded cases of pertussis, as shown on the dashboard.

Sioux Falls had the highest number of cases, with 139 reported, according to the tracker. The smallest amount, 10, was found in the western part of the state.

Pertussis cases in the state increased sharply in October and stayed high until the end of the year, as shown on the screen. The disease mostly affects children who are 14 years old or younger.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, they have increased across the country after going down during the COVID-19 outbreak.

What are the signs of whooping cough?

The early signs of pertussis can look a lot like a regular cold, according to the news. They may include a runny nose, mild fever, and possibly a cough.

Symptoms lasting two weeks include a fast cough followed by a loud whooping sound, and this may be followed by mucus discharge or vomiting, according to the statement.

The health department said you can avoid pertussis with a vaccine and that there is a yearly flu vaccine.

“The protection is strongest for people who are fully vaccinated, but it gets weaker over time,” the statement said.

To prevent respiratory diseases, the department recommends avoiding contact with those who may be ill, covering your mouth or nose when coughing or sneezing or coughing into your upper elbow, washing your hands often with soap and water or using alcohol-based hand sanitizers, and avoiding touching your eyes, nose, and mouth, the release said.