Whooping cough cases are on the rise in the US, with over 6,600 reported so far this year – nearly four times the number at the same point last year. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that more than 35,000 cases of whooping cough have been documented in 2024, the highest in over a decade, resulting in ten deaths, including six babies under one year old.
Dr. Leana Wen, an emergency physician and clinical associate professor at George Washington University, explains that pertussis, also known as whooping cough, is a highly contagious respiratory illness caused by the bacteria Bordetella pertussis. The bacteria are spread through tiny droplets released when infected individuals cough or sneeze, making it easy for others to become infected.
Symptoms of pertussis typically start seven to 10 days after infection and include a low-grade fever, runny nose, and cough that progresses to violent hacking fits. These fits can be severe enough to cause vomiting and make breathing difficult, even leading to broken ribs. In infants, pertussis is especially deadly, with about one-third requiring hospital care and an estimated 1 in 5 developing pneumonia or convulsions.
Recovery from pertussis typically takes several weeks, but treatment with antibiotics can reduce severity and duration of the illness. The CDC recommends completing the DTaP series and receiving the Tdap vaccine to prevent pertussis. Adults who never received Tdap should receive a single dose, while pregnant women are recommended one dose during pregnancy.
So why are cases surging? One hypothesis is that the COVID-19 pandemic led to reduced transmission of all respiratory illnesses due to increased mask-wearing and social distancing. However, with vaccination rates declining, pertussis cases have rebounded. Dr. Wen advises parents and individuals concerned about whooping cough to complete their DTaP series, receive Tdap vaccines, and practice good hygiene, such as frequent handwashing and limiting contact with infected individuals.
In addition, the CDC recommends that everyone sharing a household with someone who has pertussis should get antibiotics within 21 days of the initial person’s cough. This post-exposure prophylaxis can help reduce the risk of contracting pertussis.
Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2025/05/01/health/whooping-cough-pertussis-vaccine-wellness