Whooping Cough's Worrying Comeback: What's Happening and Why It Matters

Whooping cough, a disease that was once common in the 1800s, is making a worrying comeback. In 2024, more than 35, 000 cases were reported, and sadly, ten children lost their lives to the illness. This is the highest number of deaths since 2017, when 13 people died. The disease is caused by a bacteria that attaches to tiny hairs in your throat and nose and releases toxins that make your airways swell. The first signs of whooping cough can be easily mistaken for a common cold, like a runny nose or sore throat. However, it can quickly worsen and cause violent coughing fits, fever, sore eyes, and even blue lips in severe cases. Babies are especially at risk, with about 1% of infected infants succumbing to the illness. The states of Pennsylvania and Wisconsin saw the most cases last year, with over 2, 500 cases each. Washington, Illinois, and Minnesota also reported a significant number of cases, with over 1, 800 each. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has sounded the alarm, warning that whooping cough is on the rise. The disease is highly contagious and spreads easily among people of all ages. The CDC also notes that the bacteria that causes whooping cough is prone to mutations, which could make it able to evade vaccines. The CDC recommends that babies get the Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis) vaccine at 2, 4, 6, and between 15 and 18 months old. Children ages 4 to 6 are also recommended to receive a booster shot of the vaccine. The agency states preteens ages 11 to 12 should also receive a shot of Tdap to boost their immunity against pertussis. The shot is recommended every 10 years after that. The CDC recommends that babies get the Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis) vaccine at 2, 4, 6, and between 15 and 18 months old. Children ages 4 to 6 are also recommended to receive a booster shot of the vaccine. The agency states preteens ages 11 to 12 should also receive a shot of Tdap to boost their immunity against pertussis. The shot is recommended every 10 years after that. The vaccine is very effective. It is 98 percent effective in children within a year of their last dose. In teenagers, the vaccine is 73 percent effective in the first year and 34 percent effective four years after vaccination. But fewer are getting it. For the 2019-2020 school year, 95 percent of kindergarteners received the Tdap vaccine. This dropped to 93 percent for the 2023-2024 school year. While that might seem like a small drop, researchers warn even tiny dips in uptake allow the ultra-infectious virus to spread. Even though the vaccine is effective, fewer people are getting it. The number of kindergarteners getting the Tdap vaccine dropped from 95% in the 2019-2020 school year to 93% in the 2023-2024 school year. This might seem small, but it's enough to let the virus spread more easily. Even though the vaccine is effective, fewer people are getting it. The number of kindergarteners getting the Tdap vaccine dropped from 95% in the 2019-2020 school year to 93% in the 2023-2024 school year. This might seem small, but it's enough to let the virus spread more easily. What happened to the child in Washington state is a stark reminder of the importance of vaccination. The child had not completed their pertussis vaccine series. Health officials have been warning for months that the US is on track to see a staggering rise in pertussis cases. The CDC has stated that the bacteria that causes whooping cough, Bordetella pertussis, is prone to mutations, which could make it able to evade vaccines. Dr. Marcos Mestre, chief clinical operations officer at Nicklaus Children's Health System in Miami, told TV channel CBS, "We have been seeing some increase in pertussis cases that are coming through our emergency departments. "Dr Marcos Mestre, chief clinical operations officer at Nicklaus Children`s Health System in Miami, told TV channel CBS, "We have been seeing some increase in pertussis cases that are coming through our emergency departments. "