A recent surge in whooping cough (pertussis) cases is intensifying across the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Weekly reported cases have reached their highest levels in years, with 259 pertussis cases reported in the first week of August, up from 215 at the end of June.
Pennsylvania leads the nation with 1,489 cases so far this year, followed by New York with 1,266 cases. This rise in infections marks a return to pre-pandemic trends, as whooping cough rates had significantly dropped during the COVID-19 pandemic due to widespread masking and social distancing. However, total cases this year have surpassed 10,000, more than triple the number reported by mid-June last year.
The CDC attributes the increase to factors such as waning immunity from the acellular pertussis vaccines introduced in the 1990s, which lose their effectiveness over time. Despite the surge, the CDC’s vaccine experts do not currently plan to revisit pertussis vaccine guidelines, although new vaccines with longer-lasting protection may soon be available.
Whooping cough symptoms typically develop in three stages. Initially, they resemble a common cold with a cough and runny nose. As the illness progresses, the cough worsens over several weeks, often leading to the characteristic “whooping” sound as patients struggle to breathe. Severe cases, especially in infants, can result in complications like pneumonia and neurological issues.
Treatment for whooping cough involves antibiotics, which are most effective when administered early in the infection. These medications can also be given to at-risk close contacts to prevent the spread of the disease. Testing, typically done via a deep nasal swab, is most accurate within the first three weeks of coughing. While antibiotics may not shorten the disease’s course, they help prevent transmission to others.
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