Whooping Cough Cases Reach Highest Annual Total in a Decade
Record-Breaking Numbers
Whooping cough cases in the U.S. have reached the highest annual total in a decade, with as many cases tallied in the last 12 weeks as in the entire rest of the year. As of mid-September, about 14,500 cases had been recorded nationwide since the beginning of the year. This number climbed to more than 32,000 as of December 14, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Causes of the Surge
Experts attribute the high case tally to a combination of factors. For one, whooping cough cases dropped to levels far lower than average during the Covid pandemic, so a jump back to pre-pandemic patterns was expected. However, this year’s total is significantly higher than 2019’s, likely due to waning vaccine protection, lower vaccination rates, and improved testing.
Symptoms and Complications
Whooping cough, also known as pertussis, is a bacterial infection that affects the upper respiratory system. Its spread typically follows a seasonal pattern, with a peak in the fall or winter. Early symptoms can resemble a common cold – cough, fever, and a runny nose – but after a week or two, patients often develop aggressive cough attacks during which it’s difficult to breathe. The term whooping cough is a reference to the high-pitched "whoop" sound that some infected people make as they inhale after a coughing fit.
Vulnerability of Infants
Infants are the most vulnerable to whooping cough, with the highest risk of getting infected and of serious complications. "It’s most severe in the youngest kids, so certainly those less than a year, and especially those less than 6 months of age," said Dean Blumberg, chief of pediatric infectious diseases at University of California, Davis, Children’s Hospital.
Vaccine Protection
The CDC recommends whooping cough vaccines, which help protect against pertussis, diphtheria, and tetanus, for everyone in the U.S., starting at 2 months old. Infants should get doses of the DTaP shot at 2, 4, and 6 months, followed by booster shots when they are between 12 and 15 months old and again at 4 to 6 years old. One dose of a different formulation of the shot, the Tdap vaccine, is also recommended for preteens between 11 and 12 and for adults every 10 years.
Decline in Vaccination Rates
Whooping cough vaccination rates in the U.S. remain high, but they have declined over the last five years or so. According to a CDC report published in September, whereas more than 94% of children born between 2018 and 2019 had received at least three doses of the DTaP vaccine by their second birthdays, the rate fell to around 92.5% for those born between 2020 and 2021.
Conclusion
Whooping cough is a serious and potentially life-threatening disease, especially for infants. The surge in cases is likely due to a combination of factors, including waning vaccine protection, lower vaccination rates, and improved testing. It is essential for parents to take whooping cough’s threat seriously and get their children vaccinated or boosted.
FAQs
Q: What is whooping cough?
A: Whooping cough, also known as pertussis, is a bacterial infection that affects the upper respiratory system.
Q: What are the symptoms of whooping cough?
A: Early symptoms can resemble a common cold – cough, fever, and a runny nose – but after a week or two, patients often develop aggressive cough attacks during which it’s difficult to breathe.
Q: Who is most vulnerable to whooping cough?
A: Infants are the most vulnerable to whooping cough, with the highest risk of getting infected and of serious complications.
Q: How can I protect my child from whooping cough?
A: The CDC recommends whooping cough vaccines, which help protect against pertussis, diphtheria, and tetanus, for everyone in the U.S., starting at 2 months old.
Q: Why are vaccination rates declining?
A: Vaccination rates are declining due to a combination of factors, including waning vaccine protection, lower vaccination rates, and improved testing.
