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A baby has died from whooping cough two months into an epidemic in New Zealand.
Health officials declared an epidemic late last year, as cases spiked to levels not seen since 2018.
What you need to know about the whooping cough epidemic
Health New Zealand confirmed the infant who died over the Christmas period was the first death recorded since the epidemic was declared on 22 November 2024.
Figures from the time showed nearly 10 percent of cases - 117 people - had to be hospitalised, while two thirds of babies under 12 months ended up in hospital.
Public Health Medicine specialist Dr Matt Reid said it was one death too many.
"Our hearts go out to the family who have lost their child to this highly infectious disease.
"This is the last news any of us wanted."
He said it was "incredibly important" that people be alert to the symptoms of whooping cough and urged any pregnant people and babies to get immunised.
"Whooping cough is highly contagious and can cause serious harm to pēpi, especially those aged under six weeks old, who are too young to be vaccinated," Dr Reid said.
"Parents or caregivers should seek medical advice for their tamariki if they have a cough that ends with a 'whoop' sound or vomiting."
Health New Zealand said 1232 cases had been notified since the onset of the epidemic (from 19 October 2024 to 10 January 2025) and 101 people hospitalised.
In 2023, three babies died from whooping cough.
Babies are particularly at risk of catching the disease.
About one or two in 100 of the babies hospitalised with pertussis, commonly called whooping cough, die from infection.
Cases of whooping cough are also being reported in Samoa, with 321 reported cases from September to 5 January.
Almost all the cases are in Upolu.
A whooping cough outbreak was declared last November.
