According to a report from the Public Health France agency, the three other deaths caused by the bacterial infection known here as coqueluche were people over 85 years of age.

Most of the children who died were newborns, aged one or two months, the agency added.

Public Health France pointed out only two cases of whooping cough were reported last year in the same region, while in 2024, some twenty outbreaks have been detected in eight regions.

The bacterial disease is highly contagious and causes a violent and uncontrollable cough, which can make breathing difficult.

Worldwide, up to 300,000 deaths are reported every year and around 40 million cases are attributed to coqueluche.

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