Whooping cough cases rise, hitting teens harder than usual

Whooping cough cases in the US have hit a ten-year peak for this time of year according to health officials. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported 18‚506 cases so far which is the highest number since about a decade ago when it exceeded 21‚800

This surge isnt surprising as whooping cough (also known as pertussis) typically peaks every three to five years. The current numbers suggest a return to pre-pandemic levels‚ when whooping cough and other contagious diseases were more prevalent

Wisconsin is facing a significant increase with roughly 1‚000 cases in 2024 compared to just 51 in 2023. The CDC data shows that about 86% of Wisconsin kindergartners received the whooping cough vaccine‚ while the national average is over 92%

Whooping cough starts like a cold but turns into a long-lasting cough. Its treated with antibiotics and prevented through vaccination (introduced around 70 years ago). The vaccine is part of a combo shot with tetanus and diphtheria‚ recommended for adults every ten years

Surprisingly‚ this years outbreaks are affecting older kids and teens more than usual. In Pennsylvania most outbreaks have been in middle school‚ high school and college settings. Similarly in Douglas County Nebraska almost all cases are among schoolkids and teens

Pertussis is worth preventing

Health experts stress the importance of early testing treatment with antibiotics and vaccination to prevent the spread of whooping cough. They remind that the vaccine is safe effective and crucial for protecting both individuals and communities