Whooping cough deaths rise in US as infections continue to surge
In 2025, a brutal respiratory infection has infected tens of thousands of people and killed at least 13 people in the United States.
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Whooping cough Cases are spreading in the United States this year, with tens of thousands infected and at least 13 people dying from the bacterial infection this year. Although the infection rate is lower than last year, it remains higher than in pre-pandemic years, and the number of deaths has increased.
The respiratory infection, also known as whooping cough, is severe and severe. cough This makes it difficult for people, especially babies, to breathe. Although the disease is rarely fatal, its persistent symptoms have earned it the nickname “100-day cough.”
The disease is caused by a bacterium Bordetella whooping coughwhich releases toxins into the human respiratory tract, so early treatment with antibiotics is vital to control the infection. The bacterium is easily transmitted between people, either through direct contact or through droplets from the mouth or nose.
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As of Dec. 20, there have been 27,871 diagnosed cases of whooping cough in the U.S. and its territories this year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Last year at this time the number was 41,922, a staggering increase after four years of fewer than 10,000 cases being reported each year at the peak of the epidemic. COVID-19 pandemic. Between 2003 and 2019, the US typically reported between 10,000 and 20,000 cases per year; the highest figure during this time was in 2012 with 48,277 cases.
At least 13 people have died from whooping cough this year, according to a recent report from the Pan American Health Organization. There were 10 deaths from the infection reported last year, according to preliminary CDC data.
Public health experts worry that persistently high whooping cough rates this year after last year's surge may be a symptom of declining vaccination rates.
The DTaP vaccine protects infants and young children from whooping cough, while the Tdap vaccine protects older children and adults. Both vaccines also protect against tetanus and diphtheria. The CDC has traditionally recommended these vaccinations. from two months of age; According to the agency's recommendations, children should receive four doses in the first two years of life and a total of six doses by age 13. But among children born in 2021 (the most recent group for which data is available), only 79 percent had received four DTaP shots by age two.
Whooping cough is most dangerous among children under one year of age, and public health experts also recommend that pregnant women Tdap vaccine for the transfer of antibodies to newborns. All adults are also recommended to get the Tdap vaccine every 10 years to ensure continued protection.
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