Whooping cough cases surge to record levels in US, CDC says

Whooping cough cases have increased to record levels since 2014, with four times as many cases compared to last year, data from the CDC showed.

There have been more than 16,000 cases this year alone and two confirmed deaths, statistics revealed. In 2023, more than 3,700 cases were registered nationwide.

“The number of reported whooping cough cases this year is higher than what was seen at this time last year,” the CDC wrote on their website. “The United States is beginning to return to pre-pandemic patterns where more than 10,000 cases are typically reported each year.”

According to the center, babies younger than a year old are at the greatest risk of developing the infection and having severe complications. Nearly 1 in 3 babies in that age range who get whooping cough end up needing treatment in the hospital, the agency noted.

The most common complications for them are Apnea and Pneumonia. 

The Hill previously reported that experts are chalking the surge up to missed vaccinations during the COVID-19 pandemic as well as mask-wearing and other requirements that lowered transmission.

There were 289 total cases the week ending Sept. 28, data showed.

The West Coast and Middle Atlantic — which comprises New Jersey, New York, New York City and Pennsylvania — appear to have the highest number of cases registered so far this year, the data showed.