Whooping cough cases double in US, CDC reports

Whooping cough cases have more than doubled across the United States in 2025, with the CDC reporting over 8,000 cases so far, compared to around 3,800 during the same period last year. Experts attribute the surge to falling vaccination rates, waning immunity among adolescents, and improved detection due to expanded PCR testing. The illness poses the greatest risk to infants and young children, with several recent deaths reported, and experts warn that further declines in vaccination rates could result in the highest number of infections since the introduction of the pertussis vaccine in the late 1940s. The trend mirrors similar increases in other vaccine-preventable diseases, such as measles, and is linked to rising vaccine hesitancy and record-high exemption rates. Public health officials emphasize the need for maintaining high vaccination coverage to preserve herd immunity and protect vulnerable populations. While improved testing has led to increased diagnosis, experts stress that vaccination remains the most effective tool for preventing severe illness and outbreaks.