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U.S. Faces Dual Crises of Rising Measles and Whooping Cough Outbreaks

Falling vaccination rates have driven record pertussis cases and the highest measles numbers since 2019, with infants and vulnerable groups at greatest risk.

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Vaccination is the most effective protection against whooping cough.

Overview

  • Pertussis cases have surged in 2025, with over 7,500 cases reported so far, following a record 35,435 infections and 10 deaths in 2024.
  • Measles has infected more than 700 people across 24 states this year, resulting in at least three deaths, with Texas at the center of the outbreak.
  • Declining national vaccination rates, now below herd immunity thresholds, have fueled the resurgence of these preventable diseases, according to CDC data.
  • Infants remain at the highest risk, with a third of babies under six months requiring hospitalization for whooping cough in 2024, and recent infant deaths reported in Louisiana and Washington.
  • Public health experts and organizations are calling for urgent immunization campaigns and booster shots to restore vaccine coverage and protect vulnerable populations.