WHOOPING COUGH KILLS BABY

A baby has died from whooping cough, the first in years in Kern County. The Kern County Health Department gave few details of the victim, only saying the child was under 6-months-old. The last pertussis (whooping cough) fatality in the county was in 2009. The Health Department is emphasizing that children be vaccinated starting at age 2-years. Pregnant women also should get a pertussis shot, preferably during their third trimester.