Health officials are raising alarms about a resurgence of a serious illness primarily affecting young children in the U.S.: pertussis, commonly known as whooping cough.
This contagious respiratory disease is caused by the bacteria Bordetella pertussis, which latch onto the small hairs in our airways and produce toxins that can swell the air passages. While it may start off resembling a typical cold, the persistent cough can linger for weeks or even months.
According to a CDC spokesperson, “Babies are especially vulnerable to severe illness caused by whooping cough, particularly within their first few months before they receive vaccinations.”
Complications in infants can include apnea (pauses in breathing), pneumonia, convulsions, and brain disease. Alarmingly, “one in every 100 infants infected with whooping cough may die from such complications,” the spokesperson stated.
While teens and adults can also experience whooping cough complications, these are generally less severe.
In 2023, the U.S. reported 5,611 cases of whooping cough, significantly up from 2,388 cases in 2022. Early data for 2024 suggests this upward trend is continuing with a preliminary figure of 17,579 cases reported by early October, compared to 3,260 at the same time in 2023.
Compared to pre-pandemic levels, the current figures exceed the 10,879 cases reported in 2019.
Some states are feeling the brunt of this increase more than others. For instance, Ohio experienced the largest spike, rising from 0.97 cases per 100,000 in 2021 to 6.89 per 100,000 in 2023, with a total of 810 reported cases.
South Dakota follows with a growth from 0.11 to 4.51 cases per 100,000. However, Illinois reported the second-highest total number of cases, counting 607.
Overall, the CDC has recorded nine fatalities during this timeframe due to whooping cough.
So, should we be worried? The CDC reassures us that this trend is not unprecedented. “It’s always a concern when an infectious disease rises,” the spokesperson noted. “However, whooping cough exhibits cyclic patterns, typically peaking every three to five years. The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted these regular patterns.”
To protect yourself and your loved ones from whooping cough, vaccination remains the most effective strategy. “Vaccines are vital for all ages,” the spokesperson highlights. The CDC recommends the Tdap vaccine during every pregnancy to ensure newborns are born with maternal immunity as they can’t start their own vaccine regimen until they’re two months old.
Ultimately, staying informed and vaccinated is critical in fighting the resurgence of whooping cough.