Recent U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) data shows that cases of whooping cough have increased across the United States compared to last year.
There have been 14,569 confirmed cases of whooping cough, or pertussis, so far in 2024, according to CDC data as of Sept. 20.
Last year, 3,475 whooping cases were reported, the CDC said.
The CDC has said separately that cases of pertussis have increased so far in 2024.
“Preliminary data show that more than four times as many cases have been reported as of week 33, reported on August 17, 2024, compared to the same time in 2023,” the CDC said in an August news release about the rise in cases. “The number of reported cases this year is higher than what was seen at the same time in 2019, prior to the pandemic.”…