Introduction to the Rise of Whooping Cough Cases
By DEVNA BOSE, Associated Press
Whooping cough cases are rising, and doctors are bracing for yet another tough year. There have been 8,485 cases reported in 2025, according to preliminary data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That’s twice as many cases as this time last year, based on the CDC’s final tally.
Understanding the Trends
Rates of whooping cough, or pertussis, soared last year, which experts said wasn’t unexpected. The number of cases fell during COVID-19 because of masking and social distancing. Plus, experts said, the illness peaks every two to five years. But experts say the outbreaks of vaccine-preventable illnesses, like measles and whooping cough, could be indicative of changing attitudes toward vaccines. U.S. kindergarten vaccination rates fell last year, and the number of children with vaccine exemptions hit an all-time high.
The Role of Vaccination
“There’s unfortunately been increasing anti-vaccine sentiment in the United States,” said Dr. Ericka Hayes at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. “Our recovery is not nearly as quick as we expected it to be and we needed it to be. And again, when you fall below 95% for vaccinations, you lose that herd immunity protection.” The pertussis vaccine, which also protects against diphtheria and tetanus, is given at two months, four months and six months. The CDC recommends adults get follow-up doses every 10 years.
The Impact and Prevention
Whooping cough tends to peak around this time of year and in the fall. It’s usually spread through respiratory droplets in the air, when people with pertussis cough, sneeze or breathe close to others. The symptoms are similar to a cold but the cough becomes increasingly severe with a distinctive sound — a “whoop” as the person tries to take in air. It is treated with antibiotics. In the past six months, two babies in Louisiana and a 5-year-old in Washington state have died from whooping cough.
High-Risk Groups
The illness is most dangerous for infants, especially before they receive their first round of vaccinations. That’s why the vaccine is also recommended for expecting mothers — it can protect newborns. But not enough people are getting the vaccine during pregnancy, said Hayes, who is the hospital’s senior medical director of infection prevention and control. “The uptake of the vaccine for pregnant mothers is not where we need to be at all,” she said.
Regional Outbreaks
Pennsylvania, one of the states hit hardest by the illness last year, has recorded 207 whooping cough cases in 2025. Neil Ruhland, a state health department spokesman, said the biggest increases are in populated areas like Philadelphia and Pittsburgh and in middle and high schools and colleges. He said 94.6% of the state’s kindergarteners are vaccinated. Michigan is on track for a similar pertussis season to last year’s, said Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, the state’s chief medical executive. The state has recorded 516 cases thus far, mostly among children aged 5 to 17, and saw a total of 2,081 cases in 2024.
Challenges in Public Health
Bagdasarian said vaccination rates vary from county to county. Some schools have rates as low as 30%, creating pockets of vulnerable communities to vaccine-preventable diseases like pertussis and measles, she said. “We’re watching pertussis numbers very carefully, but a lot of our resources are going into contact tracing our measles cases right now,” she said. “And public health is doing much more with fewer resources in 2025 than we’ve had to do before.”
Conclusion
The rise in whooping cough cases across the US is a concerning trend that highlights the importance of vaccination and herd immunity. As the number of cases continues to climb, it is crucial for individuals, especially those in high-risk groups, to get vaccinated and for public health officials to continue monitoring the situation closely.
FAQs
- What is whooping cough?
Whooping cough, or pertussis, is a highly contagious respiratory tract infection. - How is whooping cough spread?
It is usually spread through respiratory droplets in the air when people with pertussis cough, sneeze, or breathe close to others. - What are the symptoms of whooping cough?
The symptoms are similar to a cold but the cough becomes increasingly severe with a distinctive sound — a “whoop” as the person tries to take in air. - How can whooping cough be prevented?
Prevention is primarily through vaccination. The pertussis vaccine is given at two months, four months, and six months, and follow-up doses are recommended every 10 years for adults. - Who is most at risk from whooping cough?
Infants, especially before they receive their first round of vaccinations, are at the highest risk. Expecting mothers can protect their newborns by getting vaccinated during pregnancy.
