The U.S. has seen a significant spike in whooping cough cases over the past few months, with over 32,000 reported this year alone. This is nearly six times higher than the number of cases last year. Oregon reported more than 1,000 cases, its highest since 1950, resulting in two deaths. The highly contagious respiratory illness can be prevented with a common vaccine, but vaccination rates among children have declined in recent years. Infants and young children are particularly vulnerable to whooping cough, which was once responsible for a deadly 10% death rate in unvaccinated children before the introduction of the vaccine.
Source: https://www.salon.com/2024/12/31/whooping-cough-cases-surge-across-the-us-as-vaccinations-decline