Reports indicate that instances of Whooping cough (Pertussis) infections in the US are on a significant rise, and the healthcare fraternity is preparing for what could be a tough year ahead. Data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reveals that in 2025, the number of reported Pertussis cases stands at 8,485 which is double the number from the same period last year. Experts had predicted a surge in the numbers after a recorder dip in cases during the COVID-19 pandemic, owing to increased uptake of masking and social distancing measures. The nature of the disease also contributes to the fluctuation in cases, as it tends to peak every two to five years.
This trend of rising infections of vaccine-preventable diseases such as measles and whooping cough could be an indication of shifting attitudes towards vaccinations. The US reported a decrease in kindergarten vaccination rates in the previous year, accompanied by an all-time high in the number of children with vaccine exemptions. According to Dr. Ericka Hayes from the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, there’s been an unfortunate rise in anti-vaccine sentiment across the United States. She emphasized the vital role of herd immunity, which is endangered when vaccination rates fall below 95%. Pertussis transmission typically increases during this season and in the fall, being spread predominantly through respiratory droplets when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or breathes too close to others. Its initial symptoms can be mistaken for a cold, it but later develops a severe cough with a characteristic ‘whoop’ sound. Antibiotics are used to treat pertussis, but prevention through vaccination is crucial.
The pertussis vaccine, administered along with diphtheria and tetanus immunizations, is given at two, four, and six months of age. It is recommended that adults receive booster doses every ten years. Infants, especially those yet to receive their first round of vaccinations, are the most susceptible. Pregnant women are also advised to receive the vaccine for added protection of the newborns. However, according to Hayes, there’s a dismal uptake of this crucial vaccine among expectant mothers.
Incidentally, Pennsylvania documented 207 cases of whooping cough in 2025 and found its highest surges in densely populated areas. The state’s Health Department spokesperson Neil Ruhland said that 94.6% of kindergarteners in Pennsylvania are vaccinated. However, in counties with vaccination rates as low as 30%, there are pockets of the community vulnerable to vaccine-preventable diseases like pertussis and measles. In light of these developments, constant monitoring of whooping cough cases is essential. The healthcare sector aims to manage these growing challenges with the limited resources they have at their disposal.
Public attention has been drawn to the importance of safe disposal of unused or expired medications by the twenty-eighth National Drug Takeback Day. Meanwhile, rural hospitals face the threat of dropping obstetrics care, which places expectant mothers at an increased risk. Thus, these rising cases of whooping cough, alongside existing healthcare issues, present numerous challenges for the public health sector.