There is an increase in whooping cough, or pertussis, instances, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
In comparison to 2023, there are about three times as many instances recorded in the United States this year. According to the CDC, there have been 45 instances of whooping cough in Georgia.
4,800 cases were reported nationwide this year, up from roughly 1,750 instances the previous year, according to the CDC.
The CDC stated that while virtual learning and masking helped reduce the spread of illnesses like whooping cough during the COVID-19 pandemic, many people also missed out on immunizations during that time.
The organization reported that during the pandemic, TDAP vaccination rates—which guard against tetanus, diphtheria, and acellular pertussis—were significantly lower than usual, with a significant decline in 2020.
“It’s an infection in the throat and in lungs that, when you get it, you cough, and cough, and cough,” Dr. Robert Frenck stated.
Pediatric illness expert Frenck is the Director of Vaccine Research at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital. He noted that babies are particularly vulnerable to whooping cough.
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“The problem is that within the first couple of years of life, babies can get very, very sick to the point of –they can even die from the pertussis. They certainly can be hospitalized. And that’s where the vaccine is very effective at preventing that severe disease and death,” Frenck stated.
According to the CDC, the number of whooping cough cases per year is approaching 10,000, which is the pre-pandemic level.
In order to safeguard their unborn child, doctors advise parents to ensure that their children have received their recommended dose of the TDAP vaccine.
Whooping cough symptoms begin similarly to a typical cold and progress into strong coughs that can linger for several weeks. According to the CDC, severe cases can result in low oxygen levels, pneumonia, and cracked ribs.
