The highly preventable illness known as whooping cough is spreading across the United States at some of the highest levels seen in the past decade, with young infants facing the greatest risk.
More than 27,000 cases of whooping cough (also known as pertussis) have been reported nationwide so far in 2025, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
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While that’s fewer than during the same period last year, it’s still more than four times higher than in all of 2023.
Where Whooping Cough Cases Are Surging
Cases of whooping cough are increasing nationwide, but some states are being hit harder than others, according to NBC News.
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- Oregon reported 1,475 cases as of December 10 (including 1 infant death) — exceeding its previous annual record from 1950.
- Texas has logged more than 3,500 cases through October — roughly four times more than the same period last year.
- Kentucky has reported three infant deaths from pertussis in 2025, after having none since 2018.
- Louisiana reported two pediatric deaths, and South Dakota reported one.
Nationally, CDC data show that pertussis case counts remain elevated compared with the years immediately before the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Surveillance gaps during the pandemic make exact comparisons difficult, but experts say the overall trend is clear.
Low Vaccination Rates Are Fueling Whooping Cough Cases
As COVID-19 illness spread, less social contact and travel and remote schooling led to a temporary dip in many respiratory illnesses, including whooping cough, says Sharon Nachman, MD, the chief of pediatric infectious diseases at Stony Brook Children’s Hospital in New York.
When those protective factors faded, cases rebounded sharply. “In 2024 we saw a huge number of cases — far more than we had seen in many years — and 2025 remains well above pre-pandemic levels,” says Dr. Nachman.
The resurgence of whooping cough is happening as childhood vaccination coverage slips below levels needed for community protection in much of the country.
An NBC News and Stanford University investigation found that, among 31 states that reported detailed data, about 70 percent of counties and jurisdictions fell below the 95 percent vaccination rate recommended to prevent outbreaks.
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In Texas, nearly 60 percent of counties missed that threshold, and most counties that reported data showed declines compared with 2019.
The spread is also fueled by older kids and adults whose immunity from past vaccination is weakening. The farther you are from your last vaccine or booster, the greater your chances of getting whooping cough if you’re exposed, says Janet Englund, MD, a pediatrics professor at the University of Washington and a pediatric infectious disease specialist at Seattle Children’s Hospital.
What Is Whooping Cough and How Does It Spread?
Whooping cough is caused by a bacteria called Bordetella pertussis and spreads through droplets in the air when infected people cough and sneeze. It’s extremely contagious. That means once vaccination rates fall, whooping cough spreads easily.
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It’s estimated that about 4 out of 5 people without immunity will get whooping cough if they’re exposed to an infected person.
What Are the Symptoms of Whooping Cough?
Whooping cough often starts with mild, cold-like symptoms such as a runny nose, sneezing, and a low-grade fever.
After one to two weeks, the cough typically worsens, progressing into intense coughing fits that can occur for weeks or even months. In some cases, the coughing causes people to gasp for air afterward, producing the distinctive “whoop” sound the disease is named for, though not everyone makes that sound.
“It’s not a cough where you cough a few times and feel better,” says Dr. Englund. The coughing can be so severe that children vomit, and the coughing can continue for months, she explains.
Why Is Whooping Cough Dangerous for Babies?
Many infants with pertussis don’t cough at all. Because babies have a very narrow airway, the infection can actually cause them to have pauses in breathing (called apnea), which can be life-threatening.
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Who Is Most at Risk for Whooping Cough?
While people of any age can get whooping cough, infants are by far the most vulnerable to severe complications — especially those younger than 3 months old.
Babies are at higher risk for contracting whooping cough because they don’t start their pertussis vaccine series until 2 months of age and need multiple doses for strong protection, explains Nachman. “Until then, they rely on antibodies passed from their mother during pregnancy and on protection from the people around them,” she says. In rare cases, babies can die of whooping cough.
Older adults and people with weakened immune systems are also at higher risk for serious illness. Teenagers and adults, while less likely to die, can experience weeks of debilitating coughing that disrupts school, work, and daily life, says Nachman.
Who Should Be Vaccinated Against Whooping Cough — and When?
The CDC recommends vaccination against whooping cough for people of all ages, using one the following combination shots:
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- DTaP (a full dose) vaccine for infants and young children, given at 2, 4, and 6 months, followed by booster doses at 15 to 18 months and again between ages 4 and 6. (DTaP stands for diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis.)
- Tdap (a booster dose) for preteens, teens, and adults, with a recommended dose at ages 11 to 12, and boosters every 10 years. The Tdap vaccine also provides protection against tetanus and diphtheria.
- Pregnant women are advised to receive a Tdap vaccine during every pregnancy, ideally between 27 and 36 weeks, to help create protective antibodies they can pass on to their babies for protection during the newborn period.
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“Vaccinating pregnant women and the people who will be around a newborn (grandparents, siblings, caregivers) is very effective. We know how to protect babies, and this is how we do it,” says Nachman.
How to Protect Yourself and Others From Whooping Cough
Vaccination is the best way to protect yourself and your family, and slow the number of cases of whooping cough, Nachman says. The vaccines are safe, she adds, and they aren’t “live vaccines,” so they can’t give you whooping cough.
NBC News has a tool to find out vaccination rates in your community.
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To fight whooping cough and its spread, experts recommend that you:
- Stay away from infants if you’re sick or have a persistent cough.
- Wash your hands frequently.
- Avoid close contact with vulnerable people when ill.
- Make sure you’re up-to-date on tetanus boosters, which often include pertussis protection.
Preventive antibiotics can reduce your likelihood of contracting whooping cough if you get exposed. Doctors sometimes prescribe them for people at high risk of serious illness from the whooping cough or those who spend time with an infant.
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Whooping Cough Outbreaks Are Likely to Continue
Unless vaccination rates rebound, experts say additional outbreaks are likely.
“If vaccine coverage continues to dip, we’re going to see more cases, because the more children and adults who are not vaccinated or boosted, the more they are at risk,” says Nachman.
