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Like many diseases, whooping cough reached record low levels during the early days of the COVID pandemic. Also known as pertussis, it's back with a vengeance and could even threaten people who are vaccinated against the disease, since protection fades over time.

More than 10,000 cases of whooping cough have been reported in the US so far this year, and weekly reports say cases have more than tripled 2023 levels as of June, according to the CDC. In 2023, there were 2815 cases reported during the entire year.

"The number of reported cases this year is close to what was seen at the same time in 2019, prior to the pandemic," the CDC reported. There were 18,617 cases of whooping cough in 2019.

Why the Whooping Cough Vaccine Is Important

Whooping cough is a very contagious bacteria, so vaccination is an important step to avoid it.

There were 259 cases reported nationwide for the week ending August 3, with nearly half occurring in the mid-Atlantic region. Public health officials believe the resurgence of whooping cough is likely due to declining vaccination rates, mainly due to the missed vaccines during the height of the COVID pandemic. The diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis vaccines (DTaP) have been given together since the 1940s, typically during infancy and again during early childhood. In 1941, there were more than 220,000 cases of whooping cough.

Whooping cough is caused by the bacteria Bordetella pertussis. The bacteria attach to tiny, hair-like extensions in the upper respiratory system called cilia, and toxins released by them damage the cilia and cause airways to swell. Early symptoms are similar to the common cold, but the condition eventually leads to coughing fits and a high-pitched "whoop" sound made when inhaling after a fit subsides. Coughing fits can be so severe that people can fracture a rib. 

Vaccinated people may get a less severe illness, compared to unvaccinated people, the CDC says. Babies and children are particularly at risk for severe and even potentially deadly complications. About 1 in 3 babies under age 1 who get whooping cough will need to be hospitalized, and among those hospitalized babies, 1 in 100 die from complications.

SOURCES:

CDC: "Pertussis Surveillance and Trends: Recent Trends," "Nationally Notifiable Infectious Diseases and Conditions, United States: Weekly Tables: Pertussis," "Symptoms of Whooping Cough," "Pertussis Cases by Year (1922-2022)."

Pan American Health Organization: "As global cases of whooping cough rise, PAHO calls on countries to strengthen surveillance and increase vaccination."

Cleveland Clinic: "Childhood Immunization Schedule."