Whooping Cough Outbreaks Rise in the US Amid Falling Immunisation Levels, Report Warns

The cases of whooping cough are on the rise across the United States as the vaccination rate for the highly contagious respiratory illness drops, a new investigation has found. Also known as pertussis, the condition is caused by a type of bacteria known as Bordetella pertussis, which starts out like a common cold but ends up with violent coughing fits. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, these coughing bouts linger for months. Doctors say babies who are just under a year old are at the greatest risk for getting whooping cough – a life-threatening illness. While many babies with the condition do not cough at all, they suffer from constant breathlessness. The CDC says it tracked more than 26,000 cases of whooping cough this

year – fewer than almost 40,000 recorded during the same time last year, but significantly more than the 7,000cases reported in 2023.

A drop in vaccination causes more whooping cough cases

According to an investigation done by Stanford University, around 70 per cent of counties and jurisdictions across 31 states fell below the 95 per cent vaccination target rate for whooping cough. Doctors have repeatedly called for vaccination as the only way to prevent the condition for everyone. CDC recommends young kids get the DTaP vaccine, which protects against pertussis and the bacterial diseases diphtheria and tetanus. The numbers, according to the investigation, show a wider decline in childhood vaccination rates for a variety of illnesses across the country since vaccine skepticism started after the COVID-19 pandemic.

Texas and Oregon show high whooping cough numbers

In Texas, there have been more than 3,500 cases through October — roughly four times as many as the same period last year, the state’s health department has recorded. Texas also saw a surge at the end of last year, and experts said they expect to see the same this year. In Oregon, there are around 1,457 cases as of last week, surpassing the previous high seen in 1950. The Oregon Health Authority said that one baby died of whooping cough this year, the first since 2012.

What does the DTaP vaccine do?

The Tdap vaccine is an important combination shot that protects against three serious and potentially deadly bacterial infections, which include tetanus, diphtheria, and whooping cough. It works by providing a booster dose of immunity, especially important for adolescents and adults, to prevent severe breathing issues, muscle spasms, and nerve damage, and is often recommended as a booster every ten years and during pregnancy to protect newborns. The "T" and "D" stand for Tetanus and Diphtheria toxoids, which are inactivated toxins that teach your body to fight the diseases. The "ap" stands for acellular Pertussis, which uses parts of the pertussis bacteria to trigger immunity.

Signs and symptoms of whooping cough

A few signs and symptoms of whooping cough, which happen in stages, include:

• Stuffy and runny nose
• Sore throat
• Watery eyes
• Mild or occasional cough that gradually gets worse
• Low-grade (under 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit/38 degrees Celsius) or normal temperature
• Feeling generally unwell
• Breathlessness
• Stomach caving in
• Skin or the area around the mouth is turning blue or gray