Whooping cough, medically known as pertussis, is making a troubling comeback in the United States. A highly contagious infection targeting the lungs and airways, it predominantly affects infants and young children. The illness earned its nickname from the signature high-pitched “whoop” sound that often follows violent coughing fits, as the individual gasps for air.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) even shared an audio recording to illustrate just how distressing and severe these episodes can be for those infected.
Sharp Increase in Reported Cases Since the Pandemic
According to the latest figures released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 2024 saw a fivefold increase in reported whooping cough cases compared to the previous year. There were 35,435 cases in 2024, a dramatic rise from just over 7,000 in 2023. By comparison, only around 2,000 cases were documented in 2021, when much of the country was under COVID-19 lockdown measures, and people were isolating, wearing masks, and practicing heightened hygiene.
Even more concerning is that early data from 2025 suggests the upward trend is continuing. The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota estimates at least 6,600 people have already fallen ill with the infection in the first few months of this year. Additionally, reports from local and state health departments hint that numbers may climb even higher in the coming months.
Deadly Outcomes in Multiple States
The resurgence of pertussis is not only causing widespread illness but also tragic deaths. In Louisiana, two infants succumbed to the infection within the past six months. The state has recorded at least 110 confirmed cases since the start of this year. This tragic news was followed closely by a controversial policy announcement from the Louisiana Surgeon General, stating that the state would no longer actively promote mass vaccination programs.
Washington state has also seen a sharp rise in infections. As of early April 2025, health officials reported 807 confirmed cases — a stark increase from the 148 cases reported during the same time period in 2024. Among these cases was the death of a child under five years old, underscoring the vulnerability of young children to this respiratory illness.
In Idaho, Central District Health issued a health alert in March after an adult resident died from pertussis complications the previous month. Since January 2024, the state has documented 574 cases — a staggering increase compared to the mere seven cases recorded throughout 2023.
Michigan, too, has been hit hard by the resurgence. The state has reported 497 cases so far in 2025, a massive rise from the 72 cases reported in all of 2021.
Why Is Whooping Cough Making a Comeback?
Experts believe multiple factors have contributed to the worrying rise in pertussis cases. Stephen Aronoff, MD, a professor of pediatrics and infectious diseases specialist at the Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University in Philadelphia, identifies the COVID-19 pandemic as a primary cause.
“There were years where we simply were unable to adequately vaccinate children, and as a result, we now have a whole population of kids who may be under-vaccinated,” says Dr. Aronoff. “You also have pockets in communities where you have under-vaccination for one reason or another, whether it’s religious beliefs, distrust of vaccines, or something else.”
Supporting this, the National Council of State Legislatures reported a noticeable drop in kindergarten vaccination rates during the 2020–21 and 2021–22 school years. These rates had remained steady for a decade prior but failed to return to pre-pandemic levels even by the 2022–23 school year.
Another contributing factor was the isolation and protective measures taken during the height of the pandemic. “We certainly saw traditional respiratory viruses in kids basically disappear in 2021 and 2022, and it wasn’t until everything got back to normal that we started to see resurgences of those viruses,” Dr. Aronoff explains.
Moreover, advancements in disease surveillance, testing, and reporting may have increased the number of identified cases. Additionally, public health funding reductions in recent years have affected outreach and prevention efforts, exacerbating the issue.
Adding complexity to the situation is the nature of the pertussis vaccine itself. Immunity from the vaccine decreases over time, making both unvaccinated and previously vaccinated individuals susceptible to infection. The CDC has acknowledged this as a factor contributing to rising case counts.
The Essential Role of Vaccination in Prevention
Despite concerns about waning immunity, medical experts remain steadfast in their support for vaccination as the most effective defense against pertussis. Dr. Alessandro Sette, a biological sciences professor at the La Jolla Institute for Immunology in California, emphasizes the importance of widespread immunization.
“There is a lot of concern in the medical scientific community about misinformation and the whole polarization associated with vaccine acceptance,” says Dr. Sette. “People may not be as diligent in providing childhood vaccination to their children, which is very concerning because if more people are not properly vaccinated, that is potentially a leading factor in the increased circulation of pertussis.”
The CDC strongly advises following the recommended DTaP (diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis) vaccination schedule for young children, starting at 2 months of age and followed by doses at 4 months, 6 months, 15–18 months, and 4–6 years. Older children and adults are encouraged to receive the Tdap booster shot to maintain immunity. While the CDC doesn’t officially recommend adult booster doses every 10 years, the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases does.
Stanford Children’s Health additionally warns that older adults who have close contact with young children should be vigilant about their vaccination status, particularly if they haven’t received a recent Tdap booster.
To further safeguard newborns, the CDC recommends pregnant individuals get a Tdap vaccine during their third trimester. “By vaccinating the pregnant mother-to-be, you boost her level of antibodies and that passes on and protects the child in the first few months when it’s most vulnerable,” Dr. Sette notes.
Recognizing the Danger of Whooping Cough
Whooping cough is caused by the bacterium Bordetella pertussis, which latches onto tiny hair-like structures lining the respiratory tract and releases toxins that inflame and damage the airways.
In its early stages, pertussis resembles a mild cold with symptoms like a runny nose, mild cough, and low fever. However, after a week or two, it typically progresses into severe coughing fits, during which patients struggle to breathe.
“One of my professors used to refer to pertussis as the cough of 1,000 days, because people can have these prolonged, chronic coughs,” says Dr. Aronoff.
In infants, the disease can cause dangerous pauses in breathing. Statistics show that around one in three babies under the age of one with whooping cough require hospitalization. Severe coughing can also lead to vomiting, rib fractures, and in extreme cases, death.
Although antibiotics can treat the infection and help prevent its spread, they are most effective when administered early. Given how easily Bordetella pertussis spreads via respiratory droplets, Dr. Aronoff urges adults to exercise caution around infants and young children.
“Historically, pertussis has not been such a problem in adults as it is in unimmunized younger infants,” he points out. “Older individuals, however, can acquire the bacteria and then unknowingly spread it to younger kids. Grandpa may have a nasty cough and not think twice about it when he’s holding his 2-month-old grandchild, but then the grandchild gets infected.”
The Message Is Clear: Stay Up to Date on Vaccines
As pertussis cases continue to rise nationwide, Dr. Aronoff delivers a firm reminder: “Vaccines work, and the data show that when we don’t vaccinate, we have outbreaks,” he says.
The resurgence of whooping cough serves as a critical warning about the importance of maintaining routine immunizations — not just for individual health, but for protecting entire communities, particularly the most vulnerable among us.
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