Reports of pertussis (whooping cough) have dramatically risen over the past year in the United States, with case numbers exceeding the pre-pandemic highs, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
“Reports of pertussis cases were lower than usual over the past few years, during and following the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the United States is beginning to return to pre-pandemic patterns where more than 10,000 cases are typically reported each year,” the CDC said in an Oct. 17 report.
“Preliminary data show that more than five times as many cases have been reported as of week 41, reported on October 12, 2024, compared to the same time in 2023.”…