Upward trend in whooping cough
Cases of whooping cough, also known as pertussis, continue to rise, doubling the number of cases recorded during the same time period in 2024.
Whooping cough is transmitted through respiratory droplets and can cause cold-like symptoms, according to a news article from the Associated Press. Whooping cough rates typically spike every two to five years during the spring and fall. However, the experts cited in the article indicated that because of social distancing practices, the number of whooping cough cases fell during the COVID-19 pandemic, a trend observed with other respiratory diseases.
As of late April, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have identified 8,485 cases of whooping cough in 2025 — a number potentially driven by lower rates of vaccination against the infection. The experts emphasized that antivaccine attitudes have increased in the United States, dampening herd immunity for vaccine-preventable diseases and leading to outbreaks such as that of the measles virus spreading across multiple states. Some counties currently have low rates of vaccine uptake, creating communities that may be more vulnerable to whooping cough.
Public health officials urged individuals to vaccinate their children against the whooping cough-causing bacteria and receive booster doses every 10 years. Since infants are often susceptible to disease, pregnant women are advised to receive the vaccine.
Read more: Associated Press
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