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2w ago

U.S. Whooping Cough Cases Double in 2025, Raising Alarm Over Vaccination Gaps

With over 8,400 cases reported this year and several infant deaths, experts warn that declining vaccination rates could lead to the worst pertussis outbreak in decades.

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Overview

  • The U.S. has reported 8,485 whooping cough cases in 2025 so far, double the number recorded by this time last year, according to CDC data.
  • Recent deaths include two infants in Louisiana and a child under age 5 in Washington state, highlighting the disease's danger to the youngest populations.
  • Vaccination rates for kindergarteners have fallen to 92.3%, below the 95% threshold needed for herd immunity, driven by misinformation and vaccine hesitancy.
  • Public health officials warn that the U.S. could approach 70,000 cases by year-end, which would be the highest total since 1950.
  • Experts emphasize the importance of maternal vaccination during pregnancy to protect newborns, as infants are most vulnerable before their first vaccine doses.