Cases of whooping cough hit their highest level in ten years.

Cases of whooping cough hit their highest level in ten years.

In the United States, the number of whooping cough cases has increased to its highest level in ten years. 32,000 cases had been reported as of December 14, down from over 5,100 cases at the same time the previous year. Experts ascribe the trend to a mix of reasons, including a reduction in the vaccination rate.

In the past 12 weeks, there have been as many whooping cough cases reported in the United States as there were during the entire year, marking the highest yearly total in ten years. Since the year's beginning, approximately 14,500 cases had been reported nationwide as of mid-September. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data shows the number increased to over 32,000 as of Dec. 14. This represents a six-fold increase compared to the same period in 2023, when over 5,100 instances were reported. In 2022, the number was considerably lower, with about 3,000 cases.

The high number of cases is attributed by experts to a number of factors. During the Covid pandemic, for example, whooping cough cases fell to much lower than normal levels, so a return to pre-pandemic trends was anticipated. Nonetheless, they noted that this year's total is much greater than 2019's, most likely as a result of declining vaccine protection, decreased vaccination rates, and better testing. Also known as pertussis, whooping cough is a bacterial infection that affects the upper respiratory system. It usually spreads according to a seasonal cycle, peaking in the fall or winter. After a week or two, patients frequently experience severe cough attacks that make breathing difficult. In the beginning, symptoms may be similar to a regular cold, including fever, cough, and runny nose.

The name "whooping cough" refers to the high-pitched "whoop" sound that some infected individuals make when they inhale after having a coughing fit. The chief of pediatric infectious diseases at the University of California, Davis Children's Hospital, Dean Blumberg, stated, "They don't have time in between those coughs to take a breath." "Sometimes, if it’s so severe, the kids end up being intubated or on a ventilator so that they can get oxygen." Infants are at the biggest risk of contracting whooping cough and experiencing severe consequences.

It's worst in the youngest children, so definitely those under a year, and especially those under six months." "I've seen multiple patients in the intensive care unit this year, and I personally saw one who passed away from pertussis." The majority of whooping cough patients he has seen, he continued, had not received the vaccine, and he has observed a drop in vaccination rates. "Unfortunately, we've seen more unimmunized children contracting pertussis and more vaccine hesitancy."

Everyone in the United States should get vaccinated against whooping cough, which helps prevent tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis, starting at two months of age, according to the CDC. It is recommended that infants receive doses of the so-called DTaP shot at 2, 4, and 6 months, as well as booster shots at 12 to 15 months and again at 4 to 6 years of age. One dose of a different formulation of the shot, the Tdap vaccine, is also recommended for preteens between 11 and 12 and for adults every 10 years. Whooping cough vaccination rates in the U.S. remain high, but they have declined over the last five years or so.