A national resurgence of whooping cough is raising urgent alarms among health experts as vaccine hesitancy and waning immunity drive cases to pre-pandemic levels.
At a Glance
- U.S. pertussis cases up 340%
- Vermont reports 9,000% surge
- Vaccine hesitancy blamed for rise
- Pregnant women urged to get Tdap
- CDC recommends boosters for adults
Alarming Rise in Cases
Whooping cough, medically known as pertussis, is making a troubling comeback across the United States. According to the CDC, more than 17,600 cases were recorded nationwide in late 2024—a 340% increase from the year prior. In states like Vermont and New Hampshire, the spike has been even more dramatic. Newsweek reports that Vermont experienced a 9,000% year-over-year rise, a figure attributed to declining vaccination rates and delayed public health responses.
The respiratory illness, characterized by violent coughing fits followed by a “whooping” intake of breath, is highly contagious and particularly dangerous to infants. The dramatic rise is being linked to the pandemic-era decline in routine immunizations and increased vaccine skepticism. Dartmouth Health notes that pre-pandemic mitigation measures like masking and remote learning had temporarily suppressed transmission—but with those measures lifted, the infection is surging once again.
Watch Dartmouth Health’s guidance on the issue at Why Whooping Cough Cases Are Rising—and How to Respond.
Public Health Response and Vaccine Push
Medical experts are sounding the alarm about the preventable nature of these outbreaks. Dr. Geraldine Rubin of Dartmouth Health emphasized, “This illness is serious, vaccine-preventable, and families can make decisions that favor better health outcomes.” She also warned that many have forgotten how dangerous pertussis was before vaccines became widely available, saying, “We’ve lost the historical perspective that pertussis used to be a severe disease.”
Dr. Ericka Hayes, Senior Medical Director at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, stressed that adults are often the ones who pass the illness to infants, who are at the highest risk for severe complications. CHOP urges that pregnant individuals receive a Tdap booster with each pregnancy to pass on protective antibodies to their newborns.
Policy Concerns and Broader Risks
Beyond individual risk, experts are warning of systemic issues. A ProPublica investigation highlights how diminishing public health funding and the politicization of vaccines have left communities more vulnerable to preventable diseases. Former FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb also pointed to the rise in vaccine hesitancy during the pandemic as a major factor contributing to the uptick in pertussis and other infectious diseases.
Public health officials now stress the need for targeted vaccination campaigns, particularly among children and pregnant individuals. The CDC recommends staying current on DTaP vaccinations for children and Tdap boosters for adults and teens. Community outreach, better access to immunization services, and accurate public messaging are key strategies in preventing future outbreaks.
As the disease continues to spread, the surge in whooping cough serves as a stark reminder of how public trust, health education, and vaccination compliance are interconnected—and crucial to protecting the most vulnerable.
