Pennsylvania Leads U.S. Pertussis Outbreak

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) today reported that In 2024, confirmed cases of pertussis have significantly increased across the country,

Preliminary data show that more than five times (22,240) as many cases were reported as of week #44, reported on November 2, 2024, compared to (4,209) at the same time in 2023 and higher than what was seen at the same time in 2019.

The CDC's data shows Pennsylvania has reported about 10% (2,462) of all pertussis cases this year.

In October 2023, a pertussis outbreak was noticed in Pennsylvania high school students.

In December 2023, the Pennsylvania Department of Health (DOH) issued a PA Health Alert, indicating the state had been seeing increased cases and outbreaks of pertussis across the Commonwealth. In May, Philadelphia issued a Health Alert. Then, the DOH issued a second Health Alert on September 4, 2024.

Pertussis remains one of the leading causes of vaccine-preventable deaths worldwide. The incidence of pertussis is highest among young children in countries with low vaccination coverage, primarily in the developing world.

The CDC says 'vaccination is the best way to prevent pertussis.'

Infants under one year old are at the most significant risk for severe disease and death because their immune systems are still developing. Many babies who get whooping cough are infected by older siblings, parents, or caregivers whose symptoms can be so mild, especially at first, they do not know they have pertussis, but they can still be sources of infection for any infant sibling or younger child.

In the U.S., all infants and children should receive five doses of acellular pertussis vaccine in combination with diphtheria and tetanus toxoids (DTaP) at ages 2, 4, 6, and 15–18 months, and at 4–6 years. Providers can use an accelerated schedule of doses to complete the DTaP series before international travel if needed.

Additionally, the immunity conferred by childhood vaccination and natural disease wanes with time; therefore, the CDC says adolescents and adults without a tetanus-diphtheria-pertussis booster vaccination can become infected or reinfected with pertussis.

Various pertussis vaccines are available at health clinics and pharmacies in the U.S.