Surge in Whooping Cough Cases Linked to Decline in Vaccination Rates

This year, a surge in whooping cough cases has been reported across the U.S., with 8,077 cases recorded according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This is more than double the case rate from last year.

"The trend is worrisome," said Dr. Scott Roberts, assistant professor of infectious diseases at the Yale School of Medicine. "We're going in the wrong direction."

The illness, also known as pertussis, is a very contagious respiratory illness that can spread quickly and cause severe symptoms. Initially, the symptoms are similar to those of the common cold, but they can last weeks and become more intense.

"Think of just this hacking, persistent, prolonged cough that can last weeks if not months," said Dr. Suraj Saggar, the Chief of Infectious Disease at Holy Name Medical Center in Teaneck, New Jersey. "You can have these coughing fits where they come on, you're coughing for two, three, four, five minutes."

In extreme cases, whooping cough can be fatal. Last month, Louisiana's Department of Health confirmed that two infants died from the illness in the previous six months.

Doctors point to declining vaccine rates as a reason for increasing cases of whooping cough. In the 2023-2024 school year, only 92.3% of kindergarteners were vaccinated against pertussis, down from 94.9% during the 2020-2021 school year.

"Unfortunately, these are cases that are preventable," Roberts said. "There is a vaccine that is efficacious against whooping cough."

The CDC recommends babies get a series of three DTaP shots to protect against pertussis before the age of one and booster shots later to maintain protection. Adults should also get a booster dose every 10 years.

Doctors recommend individuals consult with their healthcare provider about their own vaccination plan against whooping cough.