Cases of whooping cough have surged in 2024, with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reporting at least 15,661 cases in the United States through September 21, marking a return to pre-pandemic levels. Preliminary data shows that about 5 times as many cases have been reported compared to last year, according to CDC. Pennsylvania recorded the highest number of cases at 2,087, followed by New York with 1,781. Public health experts are concerned that current strains of the pertussis bacteria may be evolving, and immunity from prior vaccinations may be fading more quickly. Before the availability of a pertussis vaccine in the 1940s, records showed more than 200,000 cases of pertussis occurred in the United States annually.
Know the diagnosis: Infants under 1 year old remain at the highest risk for contracting pertussis and facing serious complications. CDC offers a guide to help clinicians recognize infant pertussis here.