The resurgence of a preventable illness is underway, following a pandemic-related dip, and it has already reached concerning annual figures.
As of May 31, data from the Pan American Health Organization indicated over 10,000 cases of vaccine-preventable pertussis, commonly known as whooping cough, in the US. This is a significant rise compared to about 4,800 cases reported during the same time last year.
While whooping cough isn’t typically as deadly as some other vaccine-preventable diseases, like measles, it can be quite severe, particularly for infants and young children who haven’t completed the full five doses of the DTaP vaccine, administered during their first six years.
The DTaP vaccination schedule kicks off with the first dose at two months, the second at four months, a third at six months, a fourth between 15 and 18 months, and the final booster between ages four and six.
The illness is marked by violent coughing fits that can lead to vomiting and even fractured ribs. Alarmingly, about a third of babies who contract the illness require hospitalization.
This year, five children—four of whom were under one year old—have lost their lives, while the total for the previous year was ten. Generally, infants that young have received three doses of the vaccine, which offers around 85% effectiveness against the disease.
Doctors across the country are observing a spike in hospital admissions linked to pertussis symptoms, which alongside severe coughing, can lead to pneumonia, seizures, and brain damage due to oxygen deprivation.
In June, health officials in Kentucky reported two baby fatalities in the past six months, marking the first deaths in the state since 2018. Notably, neither the infants nor their mothers had been vaccinated.
In North Carolina, the first case of 2025 was reported in June, with 13 cases noted by early August. “At my hospital, we didn’t see any cases in 2023, then it jumped to 13 last year, and now, just halfway through this year, we’re already at 27,” shared Dr. David Weber, from UNC Medical Center.
South Carolina has seen 183 cases compared to 147 at the same point last year. Dr. Martha Buchanan, a family medicine physician, commented, “We’re definitely observing a decline in vaccination rates, especially after Covid. I think it’ll take some time to bounce back.”
Meanwhile, Utah has reported at least 182 cases, significantly higher than the five-year average of around 77 for this time of year. In Washington County, Utah, for instance, health authorities noted 28 cases, whereas yearly averages usually stay around 10 to 15.
Dr. Kerri Smith, a pediatrician, mentioned an uptick in hospital admissions for whooping cough: “I’ve certainly seen more kids needing hospitalization.” Another pediatrician, Dr. Tim Larsen, pointed out, “You reach a point where it’s just getting worse, not better.” He urged parents to seek early treatment to alleviate symptoms.
Experts recommend a booster every 10 years for those living in or near outbreak areas. The sustained rise in cases over the past two years has coincided with a drop-off in childhood vaccination rates.
Just over 92% of kindergarteners entering the 2024-2025 school year received the DTaP vaccine, falling below the approximately 94% threshold needed for herd immunity—where most of the population is vaccinated to prevent disease spread.
This school year, 3.6% of kindergarteners were exempt from one or more shots, up from 3.3% the previous year, with the majority of the exemptions related to personal or religious beliefs rather than medical reasons.
About 1% of infants who contract whooping cough may die from it, and the bacteria, Bordetella pertussis, is often transmitted from parents with cold-like symptoms to vulnerable babies.
Pregnant women are advised to receive a single dose of the TDaP vaccine during weeks 27 to 36 of pregnancy to enhance the pertussis antibodies in their bloodstream, providing protection to newborns who might be exposed to the illness before they can get vaccinated.
Antibiotics are crucial for treating whooping cough, as they help eliminate the bacteria, reduce the severity of symptoms, and lower the risk of complications like pneumonia.
