Cases of pertussis (whooping cough) are tracked through a national surveillance system. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) share these data publicly to help healthcare providers and public health officials monitor trends. This fall, pertussis rates have received media coverage, with news outlets picking up on the CDC’s statement: “Data show that more than five times as many cases [19,655] were reported as of week 42, reported on October 19, 2024, compared to the same time in 2023.”
Many respiratory infections have shown changing patterns post-pandemic, likely due to the prolonged period of physical distancing and masking. While the comparison to 2023 is accurate, a more concerning observation is that current pertussis rates are not just higher than last year, they are also higher than pre-pandemic levels. In 2019, 11,309 cases were documented during the same week.
Why is this happening?
- Vaccination rates continue to decline in school-age children — see this month’s In the Journals — increasing the number of unvaccinated individuals.
- Vaccinated people can still contract pertussis because immunity from the acellular pertussis vaccine wanes over time.
- The pandemic-related reduction in circulating pertussis decreased the opportunity for natural “boosting” that helps maintain population immunity when a pathogen circulates through a vaccinated population.
- Healthcare providers may be less familiar with the symptoms of pertussis or less likely to consider this infection due to fewer cases over the past four years.
What can be done?
- Ensure that children receive their primary series and boosters on time. Sharing outbreak information with patients may reinforce the importance of timely vaccination.
- Consider pertussis in patients with upper respiratory symptoms and cough, and test as needed. Early recognition enables treatment to reduce spread and increases the opportunity to counsel those who’ve been exposed.
- Make sure all pregnant people receive pertussis vaccine during every pregnancy to ensure that the youngest infants are protected during these outbreaks since they are at highest risk for severe disease and death.
Cases of pertussis (whooping cough) are tracked through a national surveillance system. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) share these data publicly to help healthcare providers and public health officials monitor trends. This fall, pertussis rates have received media coverage, with news outlets picking up on the CDC’s statement: “Data show that more than five times as many cases [19,655] were reported as of week 42, reported on October 19, 2024, compared to the same time in 2023.”
Many respiratory infections have shown changing patterns post-pandemic, likely due to the prolonged period of physical distancing and masking. While the comparison to 2023 is accurate, a more concerning observation is that current pertussis rates are not just higher than last year, they are also higher than pre-pandemic levels. In 2019, 11,309 cases were documented during the same week.
Why is this happening?
- Vaccination rates continue to decline in school-age children — see this month’s In the Journals — increasing the number of unvaccinated individuals.
- Vaccinated people can still contract pertussis because immunity from the acellular pertussis vaccine wanes over time.
- The pandemic-related reduction in circulating pertussis decreased the opportunity for natural “boosting” that helps maintain population immunity when a pathogen circulates through a vaccinated population.
- Healthcare providers may be less familiar with the symptoms of pertussis or less likely to consider this infection due to fewer cases over the past four years.
What can be done?
- Ensure that children receive their primary series and boosters on time. Sharing outbreak information with patients may reinforce the importance of timely vaccination.
- Consider pertussis in patients with upper respiratory symptoms and cough, and test as needed. Early recognition enables treatment to reduce spread and increases the opportunity to counsel those who’ve been exposed.
- Make sure all pregnant people receive pertussis vaccine during every pregnancy to ensure that the youngest infants are protected during these outbreaks since they are at highest risk for severe disease and death.