Cases of pertussis, or whooping cough, have jumped significantly in the United States this year. According to the  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there have been 1,200 cases as of November 1 — up  from 51 cases during the same period last year. This represents a return to pre-pandemic numbers, when more than 10,000 cases were usually reported annually. In fact, the number of cases so far this year is even higher than during the same period in 2019.

The pertussis numbers dipped during the pandemic, likely because of widespread mitigation measures such as masking, quarantines, and remote schooling/work.  CDC attributes the rise in cases this year to several possible factors. These include waning vaccine immunity, greater access to and use of diagnostics, and increased surveillance and reporting. 

Whooping cough, caused by Bordetella pertussis, is highly contagious and symptoms include runny nose, low-grade fever, and cough. The cough may become severe and last weeks to months. Babies and infants who are too young to get vaccinated are at highest risk for serious illness and death.

Vaccination is the best prevention for pertussis. However, while unvaccinated people are at higher risk, so are people whose vaccination protection has faded over time.  At the same time, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine, if the disease is circulating in a community, even fully vaccinated individuals could catch it. The CDC recommends pertussis vaccines for infants and children, adolescents, and pregnant individuals. The agency also recommends a dose of pertussis vaccines for adults who haven’t previously received one.