Expert Advice to Protect Your Family Now!

A significant surge in whooping cough cases is sweeping across the United States, posing a serious threat, particularly to infants and young children. Startling new data reveal that in 2025 alone, the US has already recorded 8,485 cases of this dangerous bacterial infection. This is a dramatic increase compared to the 4,266 cases reported during the same period in 2024, marking a near doubling of infections.

Similar to the alarming rise in measles cases, whooping cough, also known as pertussis, is a vaccine-preventable disease with a safe and effective immunization available. However, declining vaccination rates in children over the past two years, fueled by anti-vaccine sentiment and cuts to immunization services, are likely contributing to this worrying trend.

To shed light on this growing health concern, The Conversation spoke with epidemiologist Annette Regan, who explains why pertussis is becoming increasingly prevalent and provides crucial advice on how families can safeguard themselves from this potentially severe illness.

Understanding Pertussis: Why It's So Dangerous

Pertussis is caused by the bacterium Bordetella pertussis, first identified in 1906. The earliest recorded epidemic is believed to have occurred in Paris in 1578. This highly contagious infection leads to an acute respiratory illness characterized by intense, spasmodic coughing fits. A hallmark symptom is the distinctive "whoop" sound as individuals struggle to breathe after a severe cough.

Complications from pertussis can be life-threatening, including slowed or stopped breathing, pneumonia, and seizures. The disease is most severe in infants, but older children and adults can also experience severe illness and even death. Some medical professionals refer to pertussis as the "100-day cough" due to the persistent nature of its symptoms, which can last for weeks or even months.

The World Health Organization estimates a staggering 24.1 million pertussis cases and 160,700 deaths annually worldwide in children under the age of 5. Its high contagiousness means that 80% of unvaccinated or previously unexposed individuals will develop the infection upon exposure.

Fortunately, a safe and effective vaccine, first licensed in the US in 1914, offers significant protection against this disease.

Comparing Case Numbers: A Stark Increase

During the COVID-19 pandemic (2020-2022), pertussis cases were unusually low, likely due to social distancing, masking, and lockdowns that limited disease spread overall.

However, the past two years have seen a concerning resurgence. In 2024, local and state health agencies reported 35,435 pertussis cases to the CDC – a rate five times higher than the 7,063 cases reported in 2023 and nearly double the 18,617 cases reported in 2019 (pre-pandemic).

Tragically, between October 2024 and April 2025, at least four people in the US have died from pertussis: two infants, one school-age child, and one adult.

The Reasons Behind the Rise: A Complex Picture

While vaccines dramatically reduced pertussis infections after their introduction, cases have been on an upward trend since the 1990s, with a brief dip during the COVID-19 pandemic. Before routine childhood vaccination in 1947, annual rates hovered between 100,000 and 200,000 cases. Vaccines brought this down to under 50,000 annually by the late 1950s and below 10,000 per year in the late 1960s, reaching a low of 1,010 cases in 1976. The resurgence began in the 1980s and 1990s, exceeding 10,000 cases annually in the US from 2003 to 2019.

The recent surge likely involves several contributing factors. Pertussis naturally occurs in cyclic epidemics, peaking every two to five years. The US may be entering such a peak after the low activity period of 2020-2022. However, some experts note that the current increase appears larger than expected for a typical peak.

Reported by FazTimes Media.

Key Data:

2025 (YTD): 8,485 whooping cough cases in the US.
2024 (same period): 4,266 whooping cough cases in the US.
2024 (total): 35,435 whooping cough cases reported to the CDC.
2023 (total): 7,063 whooping cough cases reported to the CDC.
2019 (total): 18,617 whooping cough cases reported to the CDC.

October 2024 - April 2025: At least 4 deaths in the US due to pertussis.

1906: Bordetella pertussis bacterium first identified.
1578: First recorded pertussis epidemic (believed to be in Paris).
1914: Pertussis vaccine was first licensed in the US.
1947: Start of routine childhood vaccination for pertussis in the US.
1976: Lowest reported pertussis cases in the US (1,010).
80%: Contagion rate of pertussis among unvaccinated/unexposed individuals.
24.1 million: Estimated global pertussis cases annually in children under 5.
160,700: Estimated global pertussis deaths annually in children under 5.

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