Whooping Cough on the Rise: What You Need to Know

You might remember whooping cough as that nasty cold that turns into a long cough. Well, it's back and it's making a lot of kids sick. In fact, this year has seen the most cases in a decade. Why is this happening? Experts say it's because we're going back to normal after COVID-19 kept many illnesses away. So far, there have been over 18,500 cases, which is a lot. In Wisconsin alone, there have been about 1,000 cases this year. That's a big jump from last year's 51 cases. Outbreaks are happening mostly among older kids and teens, like in Pennsylvania and Nebraska.Why is this happening? Well, vaccine rates have been going down. Last year, only about 86% of kindergartners in Wisconsin got the whooping cough vaccine. That's lower than the national average of over 92%. The good news is that we have vaccines to protect us. Vaccines are really important because they stop the spread of diseases. Whooping cough is nasty, and it can be dangerous for infants and young kids. That's why doctors recommend getting vaccinated if you're pregnant, or if you spend time with little ones. It's also crucial to get tested and treated early with antibiotics if you catch whooping cough. This helps stop the spread to others. So, let's stay safe and get vaccinated!