Whooping cough cases jump sharply in 2024, back in line with pre-pandemic levels

Whooping cough cases have jumped sharply year over year but remain in line with pre-pandemic numbers, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced Thursday.

The CDC, which tracks whooping cough cases using a national surveillance system, noted that more than five times as many whooping cough cases have been reported this year as of Oct. 5, compared to the same time frame in 2023.

The CDC reported 17,579 whooping cough cases in the U.S. through the week of Oct. 5. In October last year, that number was 3,962 – an increase of just over 13,600.

Whooping cough, also known as pertussis, is an infectious disease caused by the bacterium Bordetella pertussis, according to the CDC.

The agency said children under the age of one are most likely to suffer serious illness or death if they develop whooping cough. This is because their immune systems are still developing.

“This age group continues to have the highest reported rate of pertussis,” the CDC said.

The CDC's update comes after some state and local health officials issued notices about increased cases earlier this year.

Is there a whooping cough vaccine?

According to the CDC, the most effective way to combat whooping cough is by getting vaccinated, although even those who get vaccinated may also catch the disease because “protection from vaccination fades over time,” the CDC said.

The agency recommends vaccinations for all age groups.

Symptoms to look out for

Experts say it usually takes 5 to 10 days for whooping cough symptoms to appear after an individual is exposed to the bacteria that causes whooping cough. Sometimes it can take as long as three weeks for symptoms to show.

Symptoms sometimes appear like common cold symptoms, the CDC said, and healthcare providers often don't diagnose it until patients develop more severe symptoms.

Early symptoms typically include:

• Runny or stuffed-up nose
• Low-grade fever (less than 100.4°F)
• Mild, occasional cough
• Babies may struggle to breathe or have life-threatening pauses in breathing. The apnea may cause the babies to turn blue.

Later symptoms include:

• Rapid, violent, and uncontrolled coughing fits
• People may develop coughing fits that last one to six weeks but can last for up to 10 weeks

The CDC said the coughing fits whooping cough patients experience can cause them to make a high-pitched "whoop" sound when they inhale, or even vomit during or after coughing fits. Some patients also end up with a fractured rib.

For teens and adults, whooping cough can lead to complications such as pneumonia.

“Complications are usually less serious in this older age group, especially in those who have been vaccinated against whooping cough,” the CDC said. “However, if complications are serious, some people may need care in the hospital.”

Experts think the disease is often unreported.

Whooping cough over the years

Whooping cough cases began to increase gradually in the 1980s and peaked in 2012 with 48,277 cases, the CDC said. Reported cases were still high until the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.

The CDC thinks the increase in cases may be linked to:

• More healthcare providers recognizing and diagnosing the illness
• More access to laboratory diagnostics
• More surveillance and reporting to public health departments
• Waning immunity from vaccines

According to the CDC, whooping cough cases were lower during and after the COVID-19 pandemic but the nation is seeing an uptick in cases.

“It's likely mitigation measures used during the pandemic (e.g., masking, remote learning) lowered transmission of pertussis,” the CDC said on its website.

Contributing: Gabe Hauari, USA TODAY

Saleen Martin is a reporter on USA TODAY's NOW team. She is from Norfolk, Virginia – the 757. Follow her on Twitter at @SaleenMartin or email her at sdmartin@usatoday.com .

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Whooping cough cases jump sharply in 2024, back in line with pre-pandemic levels