This 2016 illustration provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention depicts Bordetella pertussis bacteria, which causes whooping cough, based on electron microscope imagery. (Meredith Newlove/CDC via AP)
Whooping cough cases in the U.S. have reached their highest level in a decade for this time of year, according to health officials on Thursday.
So far, there have been 18,506 reported cases of the illness, marking the most since 2014, when the figure exceeded 21,800, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Health experts say this spike is not surprising, as whooping cough tends to surge every three to five years. The current numbers reflect a return to pre-pandemic levels, when the spread of whooping cough and other contagious diseases slowed down.
However, the rise in cases has some states on alert. Wisconsin, for instance, has seen nearly 1,000 cases this year, a sharp increase from just 51 cases last year.
Nationwide, vaccination rates among kindergarteners dropped last year, with vaccine exemptions at an all-time high. The CDC released data showing that only 86% of kindergartners in Wisconsin received the whooping cough vaccine, compared to a national average of over 92%.
Whooping cough, also known as pertussis, begins with cold-like symptoms such as a runny nose, eventually leading to a persistent cough. It can be treated with antibiotics, and routine vaccinations, which include protection against tetanus and diphtheria, have been available since the 1950s. Adults are advised to get a booster shot every 10 years.
“It’s called the 100-day cough because it can last that long,” said Joyce Knestrick, a nurse practitioner in West Virginia.
The illness mainly affects infants and young children, who are at risk of serious complications. That's why pregnant women are urged to get vaccinated to protect their newborns, and the shot is recommended for anyone in close contact with babies.
But this year, health workers have noted more outbreaks among older children and teenagers. In Pennsylvania, many cases have been reported in middle schools, high schools, and colleges. Similarly, in Douglas County, Nebraska, most cases involve school-aged kids and teens, according to Justin Frederick, a deputy health director.
His own teenage daughter was affected. “It’s awful,” he shared. “Even after antibiotics, she wakes up panicking, coughing so hard she can’t breathe.”
Dr. Kris Bryant, a pediatric infectious disease expert in Louisville, Kentucky, stressed the importance of early diagnosis and treatment with antibiotics. Those exposed to the bacteria can also take antibiotics to prevent the spread.
“Preventing whooping cough is crucial,” said Bryant. “The good news is we have safe and effective vaccines to do just that.”
