WASHINGTON, D.C. – The United States is grappling with its worst Whooping cough outbreak in over a decade, as cases of the highly contagious respiratory disease, also known as pertussis, have skyrocketed past 25,000 this year alone. This marks the second consecutive surge, with the CDC reporting numbers far exceeding pre-pandemic levels and confirming at least 12 fatalities, primarily among unvaccinated infants.
Health officials attribute the explosive growth to plummeting vaccination rates, which have dipped below herd immunity thresholds in multiple states. The resurgence, first noted in 2024 with over 18,000 cases, has prompted emergency alerts from the CDC and calls for a nationwide immunization push.
Pertussis Cases Shatter Pre-Pandemic Records Nationwide
The CDC‘s latest data, released on October 15, 2025, reveals 25,617 confirmed Whooping cough cases through mid-October – a staggering 150% increase from the same period in 2019, when annual totals hovered around 10,000. This year’s tally already surpasses the entire 2024 figure by more than 40%, signaling an unrelenting outbreak.
Pertussis, caused by the Bordetella pertussis bacterium, spreads through airborne droplets from coughing or sneezing. Its hallmark is severe, uncontrollable coughing fits that can last weeks, earning it the ‘whooping’ moniker from the distinctive gasp for air. Infants under six months are at highest risk, facing potential complications like pneumonia, seizures, and death.
Historical context underscores the severity: Before widespread DTaP vaccination in the 1940s, pertussis killed thousands annually in the U.S. Vaccines reduced incidence by 90%, but cyclical outbreaks every 3-5 years have grown more intense post-COVID due to disrupted routines and vaccine hesitancy.
- 2023: 6,600 cases
- 2024: 18,200 cases
- 2025 (YTD): 25,617 cases
“We’re seeing levels not witnessed since the early 2010s,” said Dr. Rochelle Walensky, former CDC director, in a recent interview. “The data is alarming – this isn’t just a blip; it’s a public health emergency brewing.”
Hardest-Hit States Face Overwhelming Pertussis Outbreak
Geographic hotspots are emerging as epicenters of the Whooping cough crisis. California leads with 4,800 cases, followed by Texas (3,200), New York (2,900), and Pennsylvania (2,100). Midwestern states like Ohio and Illinois report surges exceeding 1,000 cases each, straining pediatric hospitals.
In California, Los Angeles County alone has logged 1,200 infections, prompting school closures in affected districts. Texas health officials declared a pertussis outbreak in July after 500 cases in Dallas-Fort Worth schools. New York City’s unvaccinated pockets in Orthodox Jewish communities have fueled clusters, with 450 pediatric cases.
| State | Cases (2025 YTD) | Deaths | Increase from 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 4,800 | 3 | +200% |
| Texas | 3,200 | 2 | +180% |
| New York | 2,900 | 1 | +150% |
| Pennsylvania | 2,100 | 1 | +220% |
| Ohio | 1,600 | 2 | +300% |
Dr. Maria Gonzalez, epidemiologist at the Texas Department of State Health Services, warned: “Our ERs are filled with gasping babies. This outbreak is hitting low-vaccination areas hardest – we need community action now.” Rural counties in the Midwest report the sharpest rises, linked to lower access to boosters.
Plummeting Vaccination Rates Ignite Whooping Cough Surge
The CDC pins the blame squarely on declining vaccination rates. National DTaP coverage for kindergarteners fell to 92.7% in 2024-25, down from 95% pre-pandemic and the 95% needed for herd immunity. Adolescent Tdap boosters lag at 78%, per school surveys.
Misinformation, amplified on social media, has eroded trust. Claims linking vaccines to autism – debunked repeatedly – persist, alongside COVID-era hesitancy spillover. Exemptions surged 20% in states like Oregon and Michigan.
- Kindergarten DTaP: 92.7% (2024) vs. 93.5% (2019)
- Adolescent Tdap: 78% (2024) vs. 88% (2019)
- Infant Series Completion: 91% (2023)
“Herd immunity is slipping away,” stated CDC Director Mandy Cohen in a press briefing. “When vaccination rates drop, preventable diseases like pertussis roar back. We’ve issued urgent guidance for catch-up shots.”
Contributing factors include pandemic backlogs, childcare mandates easing, and workforce shortages delaying well-child visits. A 2025 Kaiser Family Foundation poll found 28% of parents delaying vaccines due to ‘concerns,’ up from 15% in 2020.
Deadly Toll Mounts: Infants Lead Pertussis Fatalities
Tragedy underscores the whooping cough threat: 12 deaths reported nationwide, 10 in infants under three months too young for full vaccination. Pennsylvania mourned a 2-month-old in August, Texas lost twins last month, and California reported three infant fatalities.
Symptoms start mildly like a cold but escalate to paroxysmal coughs causing apnea in babies. Hospitalizations top 2,500 this year, with 15% requiring ICU care. Antibiotics like azithromycin shorten contagiousness but don’t alleviate coughs, which linger 4-6 weeks.
Experts highlight vulnerabilities: “Unvaccinated or partially vaccinated kids are superspreaders,” said Dr. Paul Offit, vaccine specialist at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. “Mothers’ Tdap during pregnancy passes antibodies to newborns – that’s our best defense.”
Global echoes: The UK reports 1,200 cases and 10 deaths; Australia urges boosters amid 500 infections.
CDC Mobilizes Response as Vaccination Campaigns Ramp Up
Facing the pertussis outbreak, the CDC has allocated $50 million for state grants, launched a ‘Protect Our Kids’ ad blitz, and expanded free clinic access. Recommendations include Tdap for pregnant women (every pregnancy), adolescents, and adults every 10 years.
Schools in outbreak zones mandate proof of vaccination; pharmacies offer walk-ins. Tech aids like CDC’s V-safe app track side effects, countering myths.
Looking ahead, experts predict 30,000+ cases by year-end without intervention. Winter respiratory season looms, potentially worsening spread. Pediatricians call for policy shifts: tighter exemption rules, school incentives.
“This is preventable,” Cohen emphasized. “Boost vaccination rates, and we halt this whooping cough nightmare. Parents, consult your doctor today.” Public health leaders eye 2026 kindergarten mandates to rebuild immunity walls.
Amid the surge, stories of recovery inspire: A Ohio teen, fully boosted, shielded her siblings. Community drives in New York vaccinated 5,000 in a weekend. As cases climb, the onus falls on collective action to avert a full-blown crisis.
