The death of a young Southeast Iowa child is being linked to pertussis, also known as whooping cough. The Iowa Department of Public Health Director Dr. Patricia Qunilisk says this serves as a reminder of how important it is for all adults, especially those around children less than 5 years of age, to be fully vaccinated to prevent the spread of infectious diseases. Quinlisk says Adults may not realize they have whooping cough because the symptoms of pertussis can begin like the common cold. She says the IDPH all adults receive the Tdap booster vaccine and all children receive their recommended vaccines on time, including the pertussis vaccination.