#18,758
Pertussis, or `whooping cough’ was once a major childhood scourge in the United States, with more than a million cases reported between 1940 and 1945, resulting in thousands of deaths.
Rates dropped another 70% over the the ensuing decade (see chart above), and throughout the 1970's, 1980's and 1990's remained relatively low.All that began to change with the introduction of a whole cell Pertussis vaccine (DTP) in the mid-1940s. By 1960, the number of Pertussis cases in the United States had dropped to about 15,000 cases a year – a 95% reduction over 20 years.
The DTP vaccine, while highly effective, was blamed for a variety of adverse reactions, prompting a move away from whole cell pertussis vaccines to safer – but less broadly protective - acellular vaccines in the 1990s (DTaP).
Up until the early 2000's, Pertussis - very much like measles - was well controlled in the United States due to a high uptake of childhood vaccines. But faith in vaccines has eroded over the past 20 years - largely due to the power of social media - and as a result both diseases have made a come back.
Although yearly outbreaks are highly variable, in 1992 the U.S. reported 4,082 cases while 20 years later (2012) they reported 48,277; the worst year since 1955. In 2019 - before COVID - the U.S. reported > 18,000 cases.
While social distancing and PPE use during COVID slowed spread of Pertussis, since 2023 it has been rising again. On Friday the Washington State DOH released the following report, citing a 25-fold increase in Pertussis cases in 2024 (over 2023), and early indications that 2025 is on target to exceed last year's numbers.
For immediate release: June 13, 2025 (25-082)
Contact: DOH Communications
Vaccination coverage rates among 19–35-month-olds decreased from 73% in 2019 to 65% in 2024
OLYMPIA – Washington state experienced a dramatic surge in whooping cough cases in 2024, with 2,261 confirmed and probable cases reported – a staggering 25-fold increase from 87 cases recorded in 2023, according to preliminary data released in the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) Annual Pertussis Summary. Additionally, as of May 31, there have already been 1,314 cases reported statewide this year.
What is Whooping Cough?
Pertussis, commonly referred to as whooping cough, is a bacterial disease which can cause cold-like symptoms that can turn into severe coughing spells. Severe complications can include apnea (temporarily stopping breathing), pneumonia, convulsions, collapsed lungs, rib fractures, and brain damage.
The disease is most dangerous for infants under a year of age who may struggle to breathe and can turn very pale, or even blue from not getting enough air. In severe cases, infection lead to death. Tragically, in 2024, the state reported its first whooping cough-related death since 2011— a reminder of the disease’s potential severity.
Whooping cough symptoms usually start 5 to 21 days after exposure. Whooping cough is generally treated with antibiotics. It’s important to start treatment as soon as possible to help keep the disease from spreading to others. Early treatment can also make the symptoms end sooner and be less severe.
Vaccination is the best defense against whooping cough
DOH strongly encourages everyone to stay up to date on their whooping cough vaccinations, especially those at higher risk of serious illness or those who are in close contact with them. This includes:Infants under 1 year old. Pregnant people, especially those in the third trimester. Families and caregivers of infants and young children. People with weakened immune systems or chronic respiratory illnesses. Older adults, especially those 65 and older who are more susceptible to pneumonia.
For more information, visit DOH’s Pertussis (Whooping Cough) web page where answers to frequently asked questions are also available.
Two weeks ago PAHO.org reported:
In the United States of America, between EW 1 and EW 18 of 2025, 10,062 confirmed and probable cases of pertussis, including five deaths (11), have been reported. This is the second year with the most cases reported since 2020, after 2024 in the country (2, 11).
Of the states with confirmed and probable cases of pertussis, those with the highest number in 2025 are Washington (n= 1,067 cases), Oregon (n= 723 cases), and California (n= 590 cases) (11).
The most affected age groups are among the 11 to 19 years of age, representing 31% and the 1to 6 years of age representing 24%. Deaths were mainly reported in children under 1 year of age (n= 4 fatal cases) (11).
Since Pertussis tends to spread most effectively during the warm weather months (June-Nov), we could be on track for beating last year's tally (n=35,493).
Two years ago, as part of my Personal Pre-Pandemic Plan, I updated my (long overdue) Tdap vaccine. While most people think of whooping cough as only a concern for infants and toddlers, it can be quite debilitating (and persist, often for weeks) for anyone of any age.While reliable numbers are hard to find, globally tens of millions of cases occur every year, with hundreds of thousands of lives lost.
As a child of the 1950s I sometimes find myself yearning for the `good old days', but there are some aspects of life 70 years ago (e.g. polio, measles, whooping cough, smoking, drunk driving, driving without seatbelts, etc.) that are not worth reviving.
