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Pertussis Deaths Rise, New PCR Test Receives Approval
Three infants in Kentucky have died of pertussis this year, including 1 death last week, according to public health officials. None of the infants or their mothers had been vaccinated. As of November 19, 2025, there have been 566 cases of pertussis in the state with additional cases anticipated by the end of the year. Texas has reported the most activity this year with at least 3,500 cases so far in 2025, according to a local news outlet reporting health department data.
Testing option: This week, Roche secured regulatory approval and a Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments waiver in the United States to begin shipping its first point-of-care test for pertussis. Designed for use in ambulatory care settings, the test can deliver results in fewer than 15 minutes through the company’s rapid PCR testing system. It identifies pertussis and also differentiates between 3 key species Bordetella infections to support treatment decisions.
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